A deaf e-hailing driver who alleged he was punched by a security escort accompanying a VIP near a five-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur has filed a civil lawsuit over the incident, as well as the alleged mishandling of his police report.
Ong Ing Keong filed the suit at the High Court on 10 July, naming Lance Corporal Muhammad Taufik Ismail, Inspector Che W Hashimi Rafsanjani Che W Raksan, the Kuala Lumpur Police Chief, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Malaysian government as defendants.
Ing Keong, who is registered as a person with hearing disabilities (OKU), claimed the incident occurred on 28 May 2024 while he was picking up four passengers outside the St. Regis Kuala Lumpur in KL Sentral.
According to his statement of claim, while his passengers were still boarding the vehicle, several individuals instructed him to move his car.
After all the passengers had entered the vehicle and as he was about to drive away, Muhammad Taufik, who was dressed in plain clothes, allegedly punched him through the driver’s side window without warning.
Ing Keong claimed the assault caused facial pain, soft tissue injuries and bruising to his upper lip. He also said the incident was captured on his vehicle’s dashboard camera (dashcam).
After lodging a police report and receiving treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL), Ing Keong alleged he was instructed to return to the Travers District Police Headquarters (IPD), where officers seized his mobile phone after discovering that he had downloaded the dashcam footage.
He claimed police told him the phone would only be returned if he withdrew his police report and deleted the video recording of the alleged assault.
As a deaf individual who relies on his mobile phone for both work and communication, Ing Keong said he was deprived of his primary means of communication for several hours.
He also alleged that despite being a registered person with disabilities, he was not provided with a sign language interpreter, transcription services or any other communication assistance during the process.
Ing Keong further claimed his movement inside the police station was restricted and that the second defendant, Inspector Hashimi, pressured him to withdraw his police report and settle the matter by accepting RM800 in compensation.
He said he eventually agreed out of fear that his phone would continue to be withheld, but informed police the following day that he wanted the investigation to proceed.
Through the lawsuit, Ing Keong is seeking general damages for the alleged assault, negligence, misfeasance in public office and breaches of statutory duties under the Police Act and the Persons with Disabilities Act.
He is also seeking aggravated damages, exemplary damages, interest, legal costs and any other relief the court deems appropriate.
On 4 November 2024, the Magistrate’s Court fined Muhammad Taufik RM1,000, or 20 days’ imprisonment in default, after he pleaded guilty to intentionally causing hurt to Ing Keong.
He was charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of one year’s imprisonment, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both upon conviction.
The incident previously drew criticism from the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who said attempts to link the royal institution to the incident were inappropriate.
