IN a surprising turn of events, the police decided that there was no criminal element in the harassment suffered by The Vibes reporters at the Government facility recently.
According to The Vibes, the decision was conveyed by Dang Wangi district police chief Noor Dellhan Yahaya to reporter Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain after she had finished giving her statement.
Dellhan said the police will not pursue further the case and marked the file as “refer to magistrate”, adding the aggrieved party can take up the matter to the magistrate if they decide to pursue a civil suit.
“The report has been classified as ‘refer to magistrate’. There is no criminal offence involved, no elements of crime, no one was assaulted.
“As such, the complainant can refer the case to the magistrate for civil action,” Qistina was reported as saying.
On Saturday, The Vibes reported that two of its journalists were harassed by a security guard at the Pudu Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) in Kuala Lumpur, when the journalists attempted to do a video story on how the people had to endure long hours of wait to get their passports renewed.
The guard was yelling to the duo that no one was allowed to take pictures and speak to those standing in line along the corridors without formal approval.
Both the reporters and security guard have lodged police report on the matter.
Former Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) commissioner Jerald Joseph was present at the scene when it happened.
In her police report, Qistina had indicated that she was manhandled and her mobile phone was seized – both being offences under the Penal Code. – May 16, 2022
