IPOH: There is no legal restriction preventing a police officer from using their private vehicle to enforce the law, the High Court heard in the trial of a senior police officer accused of murdering a secondary school student.
During cross-examination by defence lawyer Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, Ipoh police’s Criminal Investigation Department senior investigating officer, Asst Supt S. Dasarathan, acknowledged that senior police officers are not legally barred from using personal vehicles for law enforcement.
When asked if there was any directive, provision, or fixed punishment issued by the Inspector-General of Police or any current directive preventing such actions, ASP Dasarathan confirmed there was none.
Mior further questioned ASP Dasarathan about a police officer's responsibilities in enforcing the law:
Mior: Do you agree that the duty and responsibility of a police officer as a law enforcer is fulfilled when they take legal action, ensuring that traffic or criminal offenders are dealt with according to the provisions of the law?
ASP Dasarathan: Agree.
Mior: Do you agree that there is a provision of the law (Section 225A of the Penal Code) which states that it is an offence for a civil servant to abandon, fail to arrest, or allow an offender to escape?
ASP Dasarathan: Agree.
The hearing also addressed the noise level of the motorcycle involved in the incident, to which ASP Dasarathan confirmed that the exhaust noise exceeded the permissible limits.
He said a report from the Environment Department revealed that the exhaust produced a noise level of 100 decibels.
The case involves Deputy Supt Mohd Nazri Abdul Razak, who is accused of murdering Muhammad Zaharif Affendi Muhd Zamrie at the intersection of Jalan Taman Jati/Jalan Pekeliling Meru Indah near SMK Jati on Dec 15, 2023.
DSP Mohd Nazri was first charged at the Magistrate’s Court here on Dec 18, 2023.
The case is being heard in the High Court here before Justice Bhupindar Singh Gurcharan Singh Preet.
