KOTA KINABALU: A police officer from Lahad Datu is under investigation for allegedly handcuffing a Pelahu child during an arrest of 15 people.
This came following a picture of the boy “holding up a driver with a toy pistol” went viral.
Lahad Datu OCPD Asst Comm Nasri Mansor said they were carrying out a disciplinary probe, as well as a criminal investigation into the incident that he described as “against police procedure”.
“We have opened an investigation paper. As far as we are concerned, children should not be handcuffed, ” he said when contacted yesterday.
Asked if the cop was suspended from active duty, ACP Nasri said investigations were still ongoing and once completed, they would make their recommendations to the state Police Commissioner for the necessary action.
On Tuesday, pictures of the boy pointing a toy gun at a motorist
at a traffic intersection in Taman Aman Jaya while begging for money were widely circulated on social media.
This led police to a location where they found a group of Pelahu, also known locally as “Sea Gypsies”, begging in the area.
The group of 11 Pelahu children – five boys and six girls – aged
between six months and 12 years, were detained along with four women, aged 24 to 31, believed to be their mothers.
They were held under the Immigration Act.
Under the Child Act, a child who is arrested shall not be handcuffed unless the offence is a serious crime or that the child forcibly resists the arrest or attempts to flee.
Kin & Kids Marriage, Family and Child Therapy centre director Charis Wong said the boy, who held the toy gun, might cause fear and distress to the public but he should not be treated in a shameful and degrading manner.
“Homeless and stateless children are already living in a stressful environment and lost a significant part of their childhood.
“These kids may look tough on the outside but are extremely vulnerable,” said Wong.
She said physical restraint should only be used as a last resort to prevent them from running away and to ensure their safety or others.
“Being put in handcuffs is not a form of appropriate physical restraint. Are the police involved given training in the correct technique of using physical restraint on children?” she asked.
The Pelahu, who ply between Sabah’s east coast waters and that of neighbouring Philippines and Indonesia, were living in Kampung Air area of Lahad Datu.
According to the boy’s mother, she had bought the toy gun for her son to play with other children.
Police were now checking with the Immigration Department on the status of those arrested and when they came to Sabah.
This came following a picture of the boy “holding up a driver with a toy pistol” went viral.
Lahad Datu OCPD Asst Comm Nasri Mansor said they were carrying out a disciplinary probe, as well as a criminal investigation into the incident that he described as “against police procedure”.
“We have opened an investigation paper. As far as we are concerned, children should not be handcuffed, ” he said when contacted yesterday.
Asked if the cop was suspended from active duty, ACP Nasri said investigations were still ongoing and once completed, they would make their recommendations to the state Police Commissioner for the necessary action.
On Tuesday, pictures of the boy pointing a toy gun at a motorist
at a traffic intersection in Taman Aman Jaya while begging for money were widely circulated on social media.
This led police to a location where they found a group of Pelahu, also known locally as “Sea Gypsies”, begging in the area.
The group of 11 Pelahu children – five boys and six girls – aged
between six months and 12 years, were detained along with four women, aged 24 to 31, believed to be their mothers.
They were held under the Immigration Act.
Under the Child Act, a child who is arrested shall not be handcuffed unless the offence is a serious crime or that the child forcibly resists the arrest or attempts to flee.
Kin & Kids Marriage, Family and Child Therapy centre director Charis Wong said the boy, who held the toy gun, might cause fear and distress to the public but he should not be treated in a shameful and degrading manner.
“Homeless and stateless children are already living in a stressful environment and lost a significant part of their childhood.
“These kids may look tough on the outside but are extremely vulnerable,” said Wong.
She said physical restraint should only be used as a last resort to prevent them from running away and to ensure their safety or others.
“Being put in handcuffs is not a form of appropriate physical restraint. Are the police involved given training in the correct technique of using physical restraint on children?” she asked.
The Pelahu, who ply between Sabah’s east coast waters and that of neighbouring Philippines and Indonesia, were living in Kampung Air area of Lahad Datu.
According to the boy’s mother, she had bought the toy gun for her son to play with other children.
Police were now checking with the Immigration Department on the status of those arrested and when they came to Sabah.
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