PDRM Denies Delaying Probe Into Datuk Seri Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Daughter

4 years ago

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Earlier this month, a 20-year-old woman from Kuala Lumpur alleged the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) of a slow probe after they failed to press charges against her Datuk Seri father for sexually assaulting her

The victim first lodged a report against her father, in his 50s, at the Dang Wangi police headquarters on 14 January this year, claiming he had sexually assaulted her five days earlier at her home.

According to the 20-year-old, the sexual and physical assaults had been ongoing for a decade.

Acting on her complaint, PDRM arrested the Datuk Seri from his home in KL on 15 January.

Two days later, the accused was released on police bail with Kuala Lumpur police chief CP Datuk Saiful Azly Kamaruddin telling reporters on 26 January that the investigation was completed and had been submitted to the Deputy Public Prosecutor’s (DPP) office for the next course of action.

“I have not received the DPP’s instructions yet,” he was quoted as saying back in January.

Since then no charges have been brought against the father.

Tired of waiting, the victim decided to take to social media where she detailed how her father sexually exploited her and sought the public’s help to put pressure on authorities to expedite the case.

She claimed her father was an influential person who could get any case against him dropped and that she is living in fear as her father had the capability of “doing anything, even killing me”.

After the victim’s allegations went viral, and with her lawyer questioning the authorities over their failure to file charges, the KL police chief released a statement on Wednesday, 17 March

In the statement, Saiful Azly denied delaying the investigation into the Datuk Seri.

“Referring to a local media report claiming that prosecutors and investigations were taking a long time to charge the suspect is inaccurate,” he said, adding that the same goes for another report which stated the investigations papers (IP) was referred to the Attorney General’s Chambers on 26 January.

“The IP was needed to be referred to prosecutors several times as the case happened over a period of ten years and the completed IP was only referred to prosecutors with the suggestion to press charges on 25 February. So media reports saying the prosecution took two months to charge the suspect is not right.”

Saiful Azly said that they only received instructions from the Attorney General’s Chambers office to act against the suspect on 16 March

Therefore, the Datuk Seri will be charged next week, the KL police chief said yesterday.

Prosecutors have sent instructions to charge the man under Sections 354 and 509 of the Penal Code with the use of criminal force and the use of gestures with the intent to outrage one’s modesty.

“The charging of the suspect will be conducted on 22 March, at about 10am at Jalan Duta Court Complex since the suspect’s existing state of health did not permit so,” he said in the statement.

File photo of Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Saiful Azly Kamaruddin.
Image via Yusof Mat Isa/Malay Mail

He also said the police will apply for a Protection Order (PO) to protect the victim and her siblings from any form of harassment by the suspect

According to Saiful Azly, the victim previously rejected an Interim Protection Order (IPO) since it was only limited to the applicant as she wanted her siblings to be protected as well.

An IPO, issued before the case is charged in court, restrains the perpetrator from using domestic violence against the survivor. Whereas a PO is issued once the case has been charged in court.