Law and order

THE case has attracted attention like bees to honey because it involves an alleged assault of a hearing-impaired ehailing driver and an escort for Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

Of course, the incident needs to be thoroughly investigated by the police since a report has been lodged.

The Inspector-General of Police is personally handling the case, which exhibits its top priority.

It’s a simple case, but Tan Sri Razarudin Husain’s attention to it reveals the police’s preparedness to do what’s right and end the high-profile controversy.

Investigations have been completed and the papers sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers.

It doesn’t get more straightforward than this because it basically involves only two persons – the driver and escort. That’s all.

In the May 28 incident, ehailing driver Ong Ing Keong lodged a police report on the day alleging he was assaulted by one of Tunku Ismail’s drivers while waiting for a customer at the St Regis Hotel lobby in KL Sentral.

Unfortunately, many outrageous innuendoes and downright defamatory remarks on the palace have inundated social media by writers who cowardly hide behind anonymity.

No employer would condone heavy handedness by their staff.

Those of us who’ve interacted with bodyguards know that some of these minders can occasionally get carried away.

Unfortunately, the over-protection, even if justified, taints the people they are supposed to protect.

Looking at the facts in this case, the alleged assault was committed by an escort assigned to the Regent.

Tunku Ismail certainly didn’t order the rogue officer to purportedly rough up the driver because he wouldn’t condone such behaviour.

Making allegation about the police and palace conspiring to halt the investigation is clearly below the belt because the palace can’t defend itself.

The Regent may not be popular among some quarters, but to be fair to His Highness, he simply didn’t know about the incident until it exploded in the press and social media.

He then immediately issued a statement urging the police to launch a thorough investigation, saying no illegal actions or threats should ever be allowed.

Now that the papers have been sent to the AG’s Chambers, the escort concerned should be swiftly charged in court if the case holds water.

It’s completely unacceptable and the book must be thrown at the said person and his colleagues if attempts are found to cover up the case or coerce the driver into withdrawing his report.

The police have already called up 12 individuals in the investigation and Malaysians should have proper access to the trial if the case goes to court, which it duly should.

The witnesses include the alleged victim, the escort, some hotel staff, members of the Police Special Operations Unit, the Johor regent’s team of drivers, the complainant’s friend, a doctor, and a Grab operations director.

The IGP has rightly advised the public against speculating or linking the case to the royal institution.

Making critical comments on the case certainly differs from infusing unrelated past matters and worse, accusing the police and palace of colluding to subvert the investigation.

One or two policemen or even a representative from the palace, if any, isn’t a representation of the institutions.

But let this be a lesson to all VVIPs, too – your entourage needs to be humble because it ultimately reflects on you, unfair as it may be. There’s a price for fame and public office.

The Lawyers For Liberty are doing their jobs as a civil rights non-governmental organisation and they would surely ensure all procedures are followed.

The bottom line is let the IGP and the AG’s Chambers take over from here. Attempts to desecrate the sanctity of the royal institution is neither acceptable nor will it be tolerated.