CP: Assault of two youths at shopping mall ‘isolated case’

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Sabtu witnesses the handing-over-of-duties between Abdul Aziz (left) and Mohd Jasmani.

Sabtu witnesses the handing-over-of-duties between Abdul Aziz (left) and Mohd Jasmani.

KUCHING: State police commissioner Dato Sri Muhammad Sabtu Osman has described the assault of two youths at a shopping mall here as an ‘isolated case’ which is not in any way linked to gangsterism.

Allaying public fear that the incident on Sunday was linked to criminal gangs, Sabtu however said the police would be conducting background checks on those arrested to see if they had prior criminal records.

“This is a very isolated case and not related to gangsterism. We will need time to verify if any of them have any previous arrest record,” he said, referring to the five persons arrested on Monday night in connection with the assault.

Videos of the assault, which went viral on social media, showed two jewelry store workers being assaulted by three men and later forced to kneel and apologise to a female co-worker who they had allegedly bullied at work.

Speaking to reporters after witnessing the handing-over-of-duties-ceremony for the post of state deputy police commissioner yesterday, Sabtu also questioned the level of security at the mall, saying that it appeared as though security guards did not do anything or were slow to intervene and stop the assault.

“I have instructed the district police chief to meet with the management of the mall to discuss this issue because it affects the safety of shoppers.

“We will ask them (the management) about the situation because the security guards should have responded. If they don’t have enough guards, then we will have to station some police personnel there for patrols to give confidence to the public,” he said.

The state police commissioner also said he was appalled by the behavior of some bystanders in the video who seemed to be applauding and cheering the assault as it took place, saying it gave the impression that there were those who supported criminal acts.

On a separate issue, the state police commissioner said police were still investigating a police report lodged by villagers in Miri last week over an attack perpetrated against them by alleged thugs linked to a plantation company.

Saying that the incident was a result of a land dispute between the company and the villagers, Sabtu called on both parties not to take the law into their own hands and to let the courts decide the outcome of the dispute.

On claims the company in question had hired gangsters, he assured the police were in the midst of probing the allegations but denied that it was a widespread practice for such companies to employ thugs.

Earlier, Sabtu witnessed the handing-over-of-duties between state police Management Department head Datuk Mohd Jasmani Yusoff and the new state deputy police commissioner Datuk Abdul Aziz Yusof.

Mohd Jasmani has been the acting state deputy police commissioner following the retirement of Dato Dr Chai Khin Chung two months ago, while Abdul Aziz was the country’s Marine Police commander prior to his latest appointment.