Handcuffed child: Sabah's top cop orders investigation into two policemen allegedly involved

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Zaini Jass has ordered disciplinary investigations into two policemen allegedly involved in the viral picture of a Pelahu boy in handcuffs.

Referring to the picture that began circulating on Feb 19, he said initially the child was held under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act for not possessing a valid permit to enter Malaysia, along with four adult women, six girls and four other boys.

"The police have identified that a detective with the rank of corporal, serving at Criminal Investigation Division in Lahad Datu, was responsible for handcuffing the child at the Lahad Datu district police station.

"Investigations found that he did it with the intention of informing another corporal working at the Keningau police station that the boy has been arrested, following a prior picture of a child begging using a toy gun at a traffic light in Lahad Datu being circulated.

"The friend then publicly distributed the picture after obtaining it," said Zaini in a statement Saturday (Feb 22).

He said the police took the matter seriously and that the act is against the law.

"It did not follow the procedures stated under Section 15 of the Criminal Procedure Code (regarding the manner of arrest) and the Inspector-General of Police's Standing Order (PTKPN) A120," he stressed.