Three out of the 18 individuals previously detained in connection with a violent brawl involving street photographers, locally known as ‘ulat foto’, near KLCC have been taken back into custody. The re-arrest occurred after authorities discovered the trio possessed no legal Malaysian identity. Dang Wangi District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Sazalee Adam, revealed that fingerprint checks conducted on the suspects following their initial release yielded no records within the national database.
According to Assistant Commissioner Sazalee, the three suspects will now face further legal action under Regulation 25(1)(n) of the National Registration Regulations 1990. The lack of fingerprint records effectively confirms that these individuals do not hold the status of Malaysian citizens. He stated on Monday that the cases would be referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor, with formal charges expected to be laid by 31 March.
In a related legal development, two other suspects from the original group were charged in court on the same day under Section 149/324 of the Penal Code. These individuals were identified by victims and witnesses as the primary aggressors who initiated the violence during the KLCC incident. Authorities also utilised closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage to confirm their presence at the scene and their direct involvement in causing physical injuries to the victims.
The initial incident, which took place around 9 pm at Persiaran Petronas Twin Towers (KLCC), saw a total of 18 men apprehended after two men were brutally attacked. The victims had reportedly attempted to intervene and diffuse a confrontation between a group of individuals and a foreign tourist. However, the crowd turned on the peacemakers, assaulting them with weapons and leaving them with significant head injuries.
Preliminary police investigations indicated that all suspects involved admitted to being at the location and were working as unauthorised street photographers. The persistence of these ‘ulat foto’ operators around the iconic landmark has raised concerns regarding public safety and the professional image of the city’s tourism sector. Following these latest arrests, the police remain committed to sanitising the area of illegal activities that disrupt public order.
