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 Two-month
jail sentence sparks outrage
UMNO
introduces new party salute
Anwar
charged with causing grevious hurt
It
was just a few friendly punches, says Rahim aide
Melaka
to introduce apartheid
Mysterious
illness strikes Anwar trial
Malaysia
in bid for 2008 Olympics
FEATURE:
Police
protest negative public image
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Two-month jail sentence
sparks outrage
| Former Inspector-General of Police Rahim Noor
was this month sentenced to two months imprisonment and fined RM 2000 for
assaulting former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, sparking widespread outrage
and criticism. Rahim, who beat a blindfolded and handcuffed Anwar unconscious
while in police detention, also had his charge reduced from causing grevious
hurt to just causing hurt.
"The sentence is an outrage," said an UMNO politician
who refused to be named. "Rahim performed a valuable service to our
Prime Minister by beating the crap out of that trouble-making dissident.
He should have been given a medal and a fistful of huge government contracts.
But how do we repay his loyalty? By sentencing and fining him! What is
this country coming to?!"
A senior police officer who refused to be named described
the sentence as an immoral travesty of justice. "If the Inspector-General
of Police himself is punished for beating a blindfolded and handcuffed
detainee in the inner sanctum of Police Headquarters, what about us ordinary
police officers? "
|
Anwar: This is not 'grevious hurt' |
| "Are we to be unfairly punished simply because we
get our kicks beating people up in lock-ups? How can we be expected to
beat up dissidents and political opponents with the threat of legal action
hanging over us? How can we bludgeon demonstrators in the streets? It will
be the end of law and order as we know it."
The officer added that the sentence would severely dent
the effectiveness and morale of the police force. "We enjoy beating
people to a pulp. We love the sight of bloody faces, gaping eye wounds,
the crunch of a fractured skull. The Rahim sentence may send the wrong
message that this is no longer acceptable behaviour."
In an unrelated development, dozens of demonstrators were
sentenced to at least one year's imprisonment and fines of not less than
RM10,000 for getting in the way of riot policemen's fists and boots in
pro-Anwar demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur last year.
|
Demonstrator: This is not 'grevious
hurt' either |
|
