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On Friday afternoon, 11 June, a group of food delivery riders went over to a man’s house in Sungai Way, Petaling Jaya and assaulted him
According to Petaling Jaya police, one of the delivery riders claimed that the 29-year-old man, who had ordered food, allegedly used a name that was worded in a way that was insulting to Islam.
The 19-year-old delivery rider took a screenshot of the message sent by the customer and shared it with a food delivery group. Following which, an angered group of riders then went over to the man’s house.
A photo of the delivery riders shared by the Petaling Jaya police.
Image via Polis Daerah Petaling Jaya (Facebook)
The delivery riders first beat up the man which resulted in injuries and then brought him to the Sungai Way police station for further action
Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Mohamad Fakhruddin Abdul Hamid said that the five riders along with the man were then detained to be investigated under Section 298 and Section 147 of the Penal Code.
Section 298 covers deliberately wounding a person’s religious feelings, and Section 147 covers rioting.
All six of them were remanded for two days.
In the statement about the case, details about the name used by the man were not provided.
Mohamad Fakhruddin advised against raising issues or making provocative statements that could threaten public order and harmony. He also reminded the people not to take the law into their own hands.
File photo of Petaling Jaya police chief ACP Mohamad Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid.
Image via Fariz Iswadi Ismail/New Straits Times
After the delivery riders were arrested along with the man they assaulted on Friday, a Facebook account has allegedly launched a fund collection drive purportedly to pay bail for the five of them
In a separate statement earlier today, 13 June, Mohamad Fakhruddin said that police are tracking down the owner of ‘Gabungan Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Pembela Islam’ Facebook account for collecting funds under the name ‘Tabung Kilat Ikat Jamin Rider Foodpanda’ (Foodpanda Riders Bail Flash Fund).
The group claimed that the five riders needed to pay bail money of about RM3,000 to RM4,000 per person.
According to the Petaling Jaya police chief, the donations were to be channelled into a local bank account that is believed to be owned by the group, despite the fact that police have not asked for any bail.
“There are individuals or associations taking advantage of the situation by trying to collect funds for personal interests,” he said, adding that an investigation paper has been opened under Section 420 of the Penal Code for alleged cheating and Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998.
Image from New Straits Times showing the assault incident in Sungai Way.
Image via New Straits Times