Doctors today testified at a Suhakam inquiry on the nature and extent of injuries suffered by two victims of alleged police brutality during the Bandar Mahkota Cheras fracas on May 27.

Three doctors specifically gave detailed information on the injuries suffered by mechanic Chang Jin Haur, who was assaulted along with three other passengers by the police along when his car was pounced on by Federal Reserve Unit personnel.

Dr L Suthananthini, the first medical officer who attended to Chang at the Kajang hospital at about 12.30am on May 28, said the injuries sustained by Chang could be caused by "a strong impact".

"He could have fallen, could have been hit or punched in his face. He also could have banged himself into something," she added.

cheras mahkota road grand saga barricade fru assault 280508 01 She also noted that Chang had a centimetre long cut on his nose that could be caused by a sharp object.

According to the doctor, Chang was escorted to the hospital by several police officers.

She said he appeared calm and conscious when she first saw him despite his facial injuries.

"After that, he was (left) alone. I saw him bleeding from the bridge of his nose and he had lost one of his upper teeth. There was also a through-and-through cut on his upper lips," she said.

The doctor also said that she suspected Chang of having a concussion as he did not remember anything that could have led to his injuries.

"He told me he and his sister were driving from Port Dickson (where they live) but he did not remember what had happened after that," she added.

Dragged out and assaulted

cheras mahkota fru assault on car sequence 280508 Suthananthini was the fifth witness at the Human Rights Commission's two-day public inquiry over the alleged use of 'excessive force' by police on residents during the Bandar Mahkota Cheras (BMC) fracas .

The public inquiry which started today is being conducted at Suhakam's headquarters in Menara Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur.

The inquiry panel is headed by commissioner Zaiton Othman, and includes commissioners Dr Chiam Heng Keng and Khalid Ibrahim.

Earlier today, Chang, 23, was the first to testify and said that he, his sister and two friends were driving along Persiaran Mahkota Cheras 1 at 11.30pm when they came upon heavy traffic.

"There were cars ahead and behind us," he said. "But when we saw the blockade and Federal Reserve Unit officers ahead of us, we tried to turn around."

"However, when we stopped while trying to do a u-turn, the FRU personnel pounced on my car and started kicking and hitting the car with their batons."

He said that he was then dragged out of his car, kicked and beaten by some seven to 10 FRU personnel.

Suffered 'mild head injury'

Dr Kumaresan Supramaniam, the second doctor to testify, told the inquiry that he treated Chang later on the same day when the victim came to see him at the Seremban hospital.

Kumaresan said that Chang had suffered from mild head injury "due to an impact".

"After I did an X-ray on him, I could see that he had minimal bleeding in his brain due to an impact and a hard blow or a fall could have caused this," he said.

Kumaresan further explained that Chang also had a four to five inches of fresh bruises around his eye region but he described it as "minimum amount of swelling".

Chang, he added, also suffered from post-traumatic symptoms as he had complained of headaches and nausea.

The third and final doctor to testify, Dr Nazirah Hamzah from Kajang hospital, said she treated another passenger in the car, Chan Siew Meng, 31.

She said that Chan had bruises on his right shoulder and right lower chest region, adding that they could be inflicted by blunt objects.

"A fall would not cause this injury as he had fresh wounds (around his chest)," she said.

Inquiry extended by a day

The doctor added that Chan was escorted by several police officers to the hospital. Nazirah said he was brought to seek medical treatment at 1.30am on May 28, a few hours after the alleged assault took place.

"(However) he only suffered a mild injury and he was discharged soon after that even though his below eye-region was swollen."

Nazirah, who has been in the medical field for four years, told the inquiry panel that Chan had recalled the incident to her, claiming that he was "assaulted by police officers".

The inquiry, which ended at 5.20pm, is expected to be extended to another day from its original two-day period.

Five witnesses who were supposed to give testimonies today could not do so as time ran out.

They include malaysiakini journalists Lee Weng Kiat, Syed Jaymal Zahiid Syed Kamal and videographer Ng Kok Foong. They will testify tomorrow.

There will also be 10 other witnesses from the police force to assist in the inquiry.

Watch 6-min video of police beating Chang

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