Jobless man beaten up by public for stealing phone dies

BUKIT MERTAJAM: An unemployed man who suffered serious injuries after being beaten up by the public for stealing a RM200 mobile phone from a lorry driver last Friday, died at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital (HBM) here Sunday morning.

Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) police chief, ACP Rusli Mohd Noor said Ooi Sim Guan, 38, who failed to regain consciousness after the beating died at 12.40am.

“In the 2am incident on Friday, the victim had stopped the lorry by the roadside in Taman Sejahtera here and asked the driver for a lift to Bandar Bukit Mertajam.

“The lorry-driver, aged 33, who was on his way to Kulim, allowed him to get into the lorry, but after a kilometre, the victim said he wanted to get off,” he told a press conference here, Sunday.

He said after the man left, the lorry driver realised his mobile phone, which he had kept in the dashboard compartment on the passenger side, was missing and he turned back to Taman Sejahtera to look for the man.

“The lorry driver managed to find the man at a field near some shophouses and an argument ensued between them when the missing handphone was found on the victim,” he said.

Rusli said a struggle broke out and several men who were in the area also beat the victim up.

The incident was recorded by an individual on his mobile phone and was later uploaded onto Internet.

Rusli said following the incident, police have detained the lorry driver to assist  in investigations.

“We are tracking down several other individuals believed to have been involved in the incident and I urge anyone with information on the case to contact any police station to help in the investigation,” he said.

He also advised the public not to overreact and cause injury to others whom they suspect may have committed a crime.

“We appreciate the actions of the public (in wanting to catch criminals) but do not be rash and act outside the law. Instead, they should catch and hand the person to the police for further action,” he said. – Bernama