Charges against cop a relief but inadequate - deaf driver's counsel

The lawyer of e-hailing driver Ong Ing Keong said the charges levelled against the police officer who assaulted his client were not enough.

“To Ong, today’s court proceedings brought some relief.

“However, the sentence appears inadequate as the perpetrator of the assault is a police officer, whose duty is to protect the public and not to cause harm,” said Zaid Malek in a statement today.

Earlier today, the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate’s Court imposed a RM1,000 fine on Muhammad Taufik Ismail, a lance corporal, for causing hurt to Ong at around 11.40am in front of the lobby of St Regis Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on May 28.

The charge was framed under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carried a maximum penalty of a year in jail, a RM2,000 fine, or both.

During open-court proceedings, Taufik also apologised through his lawyer A Ashok.

When met by the media outside the court, Zaid said they did not know Taufik would be charged in court today and that Ong could not be present to witness the accused plead guilty.

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On that note, Zaid, who is also the director of NGO Lawyers for Liberty, cited a Court of Appeal decision in the assault case of former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Noor.

“In the case of Rahim v public prosecutor, the Court of Appeal laid down the legal principle that in cases of ‘police officers assaulting the public, the courts must send a message of public abhorrence by coming down hard and nothing short of a custodial sentence, even for a first offender, would suffice’.”

This is in reference to the “black eye” Rahim gave Anwar Ibrahim in 1998. He was sentenced to two months in prison for the offence.

Meanwhile, Zaid said Ong is grateful for the public’s support over the past five months in his attempt to get justice.

“The long-delayed charge comes as a culmination of a public campaign for justice for Ong, who engaged the support and participation of the public, activists, lawyers, organisations, and disabled support groups such as the Deaf Advocacy and Wellbeing National Organisation (Dawn),” he added.

Muda central executive council member Lim Wei Jiet took to X to also decry the sentencing.

“Very regrettable outcome. Sends a terrible message on the cheap price to pay for assaulting an OKU (disabled person).”

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