KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh told the Coroner’s Court here yesterday that no tear gas or water cannon was released by the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) in the vicinity of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) during the illegal assembly held on July 9 last year.
He said he was certain about it after studying the footage of a video recording at the KLCC area and a report from a police officer who was on duty there.
Amar Singh, 54, said this when questioned by lawyer Patrick Dass at the inquest of taxi driver Baharudin Ahmad who died during the Bersih 2.0 rally last year. Dass is appearing for Baharudin’s family.
Earlier, to a question by lawyer Ahmad Jufliz Faiza, also representing the deceased’s family, Amar Singh said that prior to the rally, a briefing was conducted for the police personnel.
“Besides Dataran Merdeka, there were also other focus areas, like the National Mosque, Sogo shopping centre, the Jamek Mosque at Jalan Tun Perak, KL Central, Maju Junction and the Kampung Baru Jamek Mosque,” he added.
Amar Singh said he had called for a media conference to respond to allegations made on Baharudin’s death in the Internet.
He said the main reason for the media conference was to respond to an allegation on the Internet over the death of one Suhardi Mat Isa, who was Baharudin, at the rally and on an allegation that his death was due to water cannon and tear gas.
The media conference was held about 2pm on July 10 last year, a day after the incident, he added.
Amar Singh said the media conference was held after investigating officer Sergeant Major Razali Mahmud met him with the investigating papers on the incident.
The inquest before Coroner Zulkpli Abdullah continues on June 27. — Bernama