An elderly man with a disability was recently slapped in the face by seven police officers even when he explicitly told them he’s a person with disabilities (OKU). This incident happened on 2 August in Kulim, Kedah.
According to Oriental Daily, the 54-year-old disabled man was at his massage parlour when seven plainclothes policemen barged into the premise and confiscated his smartphone.
“I was terrified because I thought they were robbers. They were wearing casual clothes when they were showing their police authority card,” Tan said.
Source: Oriental Daily
Right from the beginning, Tan told the policemen about his disability and that he couldn’t move around freely. The policemen responded by pressing on his shoulders and slapping him a few times. They even said to Tan’s face,
“Don’t think that just because you’re an OKU you won’t be arrested, I can still put you in lockup.”
Tan was slapped a few more times when asked to open the door to the staircase. After the officers went up, he could hear the screaming of his three Thai female workers. The ladies were brought before him and when he started talking, he got slapped again.
One of the ladies’ lips became swollen as a result of getting hit by the policemen. Here’s the CCTV footage of Tan getting hit.
After 30 minutes, Tan’s elder brother came to the shop only to see his brother’s face red and swollen. At about 8 pm, Tan and the other three female workers were brought to a lockup in Kulim. Despite pleading the officers to let him go due to his disability, his request was rejected.
“I asked them for a meal but were only given after I came back from the hospital and Sungai Petani Court,” Tan said, adding that it was already 3 pm on the next day by that time.
He had to be taken to the hospital by his brother as he was suffering from breathing difficulties and dizziness after getting released. Tan still couldn’t understand why the policemen had to assault him. If he had committed a crime, why not just arrest him?
Source: Oriental Daily
The brothers have lodged a complaint at Bukit Mertajam police station, to SUHAKAM, and Bagan Dalam MP, who had agreed to escalate this matter to the senior officers.
Let’s hope a thorough investigation can be carried out as the elderly man deserves an explanation for what he had gone through.
Also read: “Next Time, Don’t Bring Your Old Folks on Buses,” Rude Driver Tells Man with OKU Mother
