No criminal element in security guard assaulting reporter case, say police

KUALA LUMPUR: No criminal element was found in the alleged harassment and assault case of a news portal reporter by a security guard at a government installation, says the police.

Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Noor Dellhan Yahaya said the case has been classified as "refer to magistrate".

ALSO READ: Security guard yelled at everyone, not just journalists, says former Suhakam commissioner

"We will not pursue the matter further as there is no criminal element discovered.

"The aggrieved party can take up the matter to the magistrate should they wish to pursue a civil suit," he said when contacted on Monday (May 16).

"We will issue a form to the complainant to take up the matter to the court," he said.

ALSO READ: Media should be protected as they work for the public good, say media groups

On Saturday, a disagreement between news portal reporters and a security guard at an Urban Transformation Centres (UTC) led to police reports being lodged.

The Vibes tweeted that two of their reporters had been harassed by a security guard at the Pudu UTC, when they were covering a story regarding the long lines for passport renewals.

In the video shown, a security guard can be seen telling both reporters to leave immediately and to stop filming, before shouting in anger.

The video ends after the guard is seen snatching the handphone of one of the reporters.