Cops ready to record victim’s statement over rape threat

KUALA LUMPUR: Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Zainol Samah has given his assurance that the female youth detained over May 1’s anti-Goods and Services Tax (GST) rally can have her statement recorded in any police station of her choosing.

Maisara Amira claimed that she had been threatened with rape and public humiliation by a police officer at the Dang Wangi headquarters in order to get her to cooperate.

“The words he said were this: ‘You want me to rape you? In this room, only you and I are here. In this room, there is a camera and microphone. So if I sell the video, I can be rich.’ I was threatened that way,” said the 21-year-old.

Maisara, who was remanded for four days, was allegedly threatened by the officer while being questioned on May 5, mere hours before her release.

She lodged a report at the Petaling Jaya police headquarters on May 8.

When met at the Kuala Lumpur traffic headquarters Tuesday, ACP Zainol told reporters that police are still investigating Maisara’s claims.

He also confirmed that Dang Wangi police had called Maisara in to record her statement, but she did not show up.

“She said she wanted to wait for her lawyer. She said she was traumatised.

“We can record her statement in a different station (other than Dang Wangi). It’s not a problem,” he added.

ACP Zainol explained that under Section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Code, police had the authority to get Maisara to give her statement. The code empowers police officers to require the attendance of witnesses.

“Remember, if you don’t show up, we can call upon or force you to give a statement under Section 111 of the CPC. But we did not do that.

"You have to be straightforward. Where do you want to have your statement recorded? We will go,” he said.