QuickCheck: Was a homeless man attacked in Klang as seen in a viral video?

IN a relatively peaceful country such as Malaysia, acts of violence tend to draw much attention – and this is especially so when videos of such attacks are posted on social media.

Recently, a video of a homeless man being attacked went viral online, and it has been claimed that the incident in which three teenage boys attacked the man took place in Klang.

Is there any truth to this claim?

VERDICT:

TRUE

South Klang OCPD Asst Comm Cha Hoong Fong confirmed that three 16-year-old boys were detained at about 3am on Monday (June 5) in connection with an attack on a homeless man under a bridge in Port Klang

"One of the suspects had a prior criminal record. We also seized three mobile phones and a car," he said in a statement on Monday.

ACP Cha added that the suspects have been remanded until Wednesday (June 7) and said that the police are also looking for another suspect to assist with the investigation.

"We believe the suspects are involved in more than one incident of beating up a homeless man," he said.

He added that the investigation paper will be referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor once the probe is completed.

"We urge those with information to contact South Klang police at 03-33762222 or any nearest police station," he said.

ACP Cha had said police detected two viral videos, which showed four men beating up a homeless man using steel rods and a baseball bat.

"We believe the incident occurred under a bridge in Port Klang, near a hypermarket. We also received a police report from a woman who had watched the same videos," he said.

ACP Cha then said that the police have opened an investigation paper under Section 324 of the Penal Code for causing hurt using weapons, he said.