Malaysian couple sue alleged trigger-happy police force

Kuala Lumpur - A Malaysian couple have sued the police for 4.7 million ringgit (1.44 million dollars), accusing its officers of shooting them in an unprovoked incident last year, a news report said Friday.

Siti Nasrinda Tumirin, 23, and her husband Mohamad Fauzi Daud, 26, who were unmarried at the time, were chatting in a parked car on a street in August last year when a police patrol car arrived and flashed its headlights.

The couple drove off, but the two officers started chasing them and allegedly began shooting at their vehicle as they drove through a residential area in the central state of Selangor, the Star newspaper said.

One of the shots grazed Siti Nasrinda's back and waist, while the couple also claimed a "hail" of bullets destroyed the windscreen and damaged the car.

After the incident, Siti Nasrinda and Mohamad Fauzi were investigated for allegedly obstructing a public officer from discharging his duties.

The couple, who are Muslims, were also investigated for having close proximity, an offense under the state's Islamic sharia law.

The couple has since married but claim there have been no further investigations by police into their case, and there has been no inquiry into the shooting.

The two are suing the national police chief, the government, the Selangor state police chief and the two police officers involved.

Malaysian police came under heavy criticism last month after patrolmen fatally shot a 14-year-old boy when he allegedly refused to stop his car.

The incident sparked public outcry, and calls for an independent panel to investigate the matter.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/322462,malaysian-couple-sue-alleged-trigger-happy-police-force.html.