It is OK for the police to give their version about 'shoot to kill' incidents - whereby they normally paint a very bad picture about the DEAD victims, which makes one wonder how they did manage investigate into the backgrounds of the said victims so soon after the killings. It makes one wonder whether the whole killing was pre-planned...and that the police preferred to just kill rather than arrest, charge and try the suspect. If 'bad' persons have been identified by the police, I am sure that there are ways of arresting them without having to shoot them dead.
When other witnesses comes forward and give a different version.... they get very angry.
The 15-year-old schoolboy, said to be the main witness in the shooting of his schoolmate Aminulrasyid Amzah, was at a press conference on Monday where he revealed the events leading to the incident.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said what Azamuddin did was not right.
Musa declined to comment on what Azamuddin revealed to reporters but said the schoolboy would have to tell the truth in court later.
"If the trial is to be conducted through the media, then my officers can also give their statements to the media," said the IGP after handing congratulatory letters to police civilian staff in conjunction with the 203rd Police Day celebrations in Bukit Aman yesterday.- New Straits Times, 5/5/2010, Boy's press statements irk IGP
In Malaysia, I believe that witnesses have every right to reveal what they say to the press. Just telling the police, and keeping silent thereafter may only result in the truth being 'covered up'...more so when the perpetrators (or the killers) were police. Will it jeopardize any future trial - not really, because we do not have anymore trials by jury, where the concern then was that the lay people in the jury may have been influenced by media reports. Judges are supposed to be more professional, and will not be so influenced by media reports.
The credibility of the Malaysian police has been eroding over the years. People in Malaysia believes little what our Malaysian police tells them. As an example, remember the assault on Anwar Ibrahim by the police during his detention which resulted in that infamous black-eye. The police and the authorities not only denied causing it...but also tried to put forward other versions (not seen to be lies) as to how Anwar got his 'black-eye'...but in that case the victim was alive and had the ability to dispute the lies and reveal the truth. In shoot to kill incidents, the victims are dead and have no longer the capacity to reveal the truth when police lies...and that is why we really need a special procedure in law, which provides for an open public inquiry by an independent judge(or panel) who will strive to find the truth, and thereafter have the courage to reveal the truth...
In the case of Aminulrasyid Amzah, the government is doing some inquiring....and a special panel was set up, but their too speedy conclusion about police investigations may have just destroyed their credibility... We need a new panel/commission...who will investigate thoroughly and have open inquiries before coming to any conclusions...
Panel chairman Datuk Abu Seman Yusop said:“We concluded that police investigations into the case have been transparent and fair.” - New Straits Times, 5/5/2010, No need for Royal Commission, Panel satisfied with police probe into shooting of schoolboy
There is much concern about this 'shoot to kill' incident - what about doing the same for the rest of the 'shoot to kill' incidents over at least the past 6 years....
Some Relevant News Reports:-
SHAH ALAM: The schoolboy, said to be the main witness in the fatal shooting of Aminulrasyid Amzah, claimed that police fired at their moving car for about 400 metres until it crashed into a wall.
Azamuddin Omar giving his version of the shooting incident at a press conference in Shah Alam yesterday. — NST picture by Roslin Mat Tahir
Azamuddin Omar said police had opened fire on their car from a Caltex petrol station near Jalan Tarian in Section 11 until they were on Jalan 11/2G, which was about 200 metres away from Aminulrasyid's house.
"Aminul suddenly slumped on my lap, bleeding from the head. His foot was still on the accelerator and the car kept moving until it crashed into the retaining wall of a house."
Following the incident which occurred last Monday, police had said that they opened fire after the driver tried to reverse the car into a group of policeman.
But yesterday, Azamuddin, the 15-year-old son of a policeman attached to the Shah Alam district police headquarters, did not make any mention of them trying to reverse the car in a bid to escape.
The boy turned up at the press conference held at Aminulrasyid's family home, after school, accompanied by school authorities.Sounding nervous, Azamuddin claimed police kept shooting as Aminulrasyid lay dead on his lap.
"After the car crashed into the wall, I managed to get out but a policeman started beating me up. He was joined by several others. I then managed to run into the darkness," said the Form Three student of SMK Section 9, Shah Alam.
The boy said he ran through some bushes and passed a school before getting home.
He then showed reporters the bruises on his arm which he claimed were the result of being roughed up by the policemen.
Relating what had occurred earlier that night, Azamuddin said Aminulrasyid picked him up about midnight.
"He also called two other friends but they called back later and said their motorcycle had a puncture near a restaurant in Section 7.
"We went to meet them and as we were leaving, Aminul grazed a car," he said, adding he could not remember the make of the car or the registration number.
He then said five motorcyclists started chasing their car. Aminulrasyid panicked and was adamant in getting back home quickly.
As the chase neared the Kayangan roundabout, one of the motorcyclists collided with Aminulrasyid's car, throwing the rider off the machine.
"Aminul was really scared. He did not want any problems as he was driving his sister's car. He just wanted to go home," he said, adding that by that time, the police were also involved in the chase.
"Then Aminul was shot."
The boy then took about three questions from reporters before he was led away by family members and lawyers.
They claimed that the boy was still traumatised and produced a doctor's letter to verify this.
Throughout the press conference, however, Azamuddin did not mention the parang which police had earlier claimed they had found in the victim's car.
Aminulrasyid was killed by a single bullet to the back of his head during the chase. Unconfirmed reports suggested that almost 20 shots were fired at the car.
Four policemen are being investigated in the case which has been classified as murder. - New Straits Times, 4/5/2010, Witness breaks silence:'Cops kept shooting as Aminul lay dead'
How long ago was this panel set up? When did they start working? About 1 week or less...Was there any public notice requesting witnesses to come forward and meet the panel? Did the panel talk to all the witnesses? But alas...they seem to have already made conclusions (Note: NST report about setting up of panel was on 28/4/2010 - Special panel to look into fatal shooting of schoolboy)
New Straits Times, 5/5/2010, No need for Royal Commission, Panel satisfied with police probe into shooting of schoolboy
PUTRAJAYA: Police investigations into the shooting of 15-year-old student Aminulrasyid Amzah have been fair and transparent.
Members of the panel visiting the restaurant where Aminulrasyid Amzah had watched a football match before he was fatally shot by the police on April 26. - NST picture by T.H. Goh
This was the finding of the eight-member special panel who interviewed the investigation officer and several police officers.The panel held its first meeting at the Home Ministry yesterday.
After the three-hour meeting, the panel expressed satisfaction with the way the investigations were progressing.
Panel chairman Datuk Abu Seman Yusop said:“We concluded that police investigations into the case have been transparent and fair.”
Abu Seman, who is deputy home minister, said the panel could interview parties concerned at any time.
“We are also empowered to request the investigation papers from the police,” he said, adding that the scope of the panel went beyond ensuring a fair investigation into the case.
The panel will review the standard operating procedures on the discharging of firearms and the training module for policemen.
Abu Seman said as stated in the panel’s terms of reference, it would also monitor the investigations to ensure that justice was done and there were no delays.
The others in the panel are:
* Former inspector-general of police Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar;
* Home Ministry deputy secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Fuad Abdul
Aziz;
* Social activist Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria,who was a member of the
Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission;
* Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute chief executive officer Datuk Dr Michael Yeoh;
* Lawyer Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
* Crime analyst and Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation exco-member Kamal Affandi; and
* Universiti Teknologi Mara deputy vice-chancellor Prof Abdul Halim Sidek.
Last night, they visited the entire scene starting in Section 7, Shah Alam, and finishing in Section 11, which took about two hours.
They also spoke to the house owner into whose perimeter wall Aminulrasyid had crashed..
Wan Rahim Tajuddin, 54, told the panel that the police had not recorded his statement. He then told them his version of what happened.
Later, Abu Seman said the purpose of the visit to the crime scene was to give a better understanding what had happened.
He added that it was still too early to draw any conclusion and declined to set a time frame when their report would be ready.
On reviewing the IGP's standing orders on the discharging of firearms, Abu Seman said the panel would make recommendations to the Home Ministry if the need arose.
The panel was formed by the ministry after a public outcry following the shooting of Form Three student Aminulrasyid during a police car chase in Shah Alam last Monday.
Abu Seman said the panel would ensure fairness to the parties concerned, namely Aminulrasyid's family and the police.
Asked on calls for the disbanding of the panel and for it to be replaced with a Royal Commission of Inquiry, Abu Seman said the panel was formed to ensure transparency and fairness in the investigations.
"There is no vested interest here," he said, adding there was no need for a Royal Commission at this stage.
The panel will submit its findings to the Home Ministry.
Abu Seman urged those who witnessed the incident to help police in the probe.
Aminulrasyid was shot by police early on April 26 after he refused to stop his car despite being ordered to do so by police.
The student of SMK Section 9 in Shah Alam was killed by a shot to the back of his head. He was driving his sister's Proton Iswara.
With him was his schoolmate, Azamuddin Omar, 15, who escaped after the shooting.
In a news conference on Monday, Azamuddin said police had fired several shots at their car.
The policeman's son said Aminulrasyid did not stop as he was driving his sister's car and was scared of the repercussions.
Azamuddin also said that after Aminulrasyid was shot, the boy slumped onto his lap, but his foot remained on the accelerator.
The car crashed into the perimeter wall of a house on Jalan 11/2G, 200m from Aminulrasyid's house.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Abu Seman Yusop (fourth from left) at a press conference after chairing the first meeting of the independent panel formed to probe the fatal shooting of Aminulrasyid Amzah. With him are panel members (from left) crime analyst and Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation exco member Kamal Affandi, social activist and member of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, lawyer Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, former inspector-general of police Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar, Asean Strategy and Leadership Institute chief executive officer Datuk Dr Michael Yeoh, Universiti Teknologi Mara deputy vice-chancellor Prof Abdul Halim Sidek and ministry deputy secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Fuad Abd Aziz. The panel visited the scene of the shooting incident yesterday.
And, the report about the angry police because.....
KUALA LUMPUR: There is a debate raging whether it was ethical for witness Azamuddin Omar to reveal details of the shooting to the media.
The 15-year-old schoolboy, said to be the main witness in the shooting of his schoolmate Aminulrasyid Amzah, was at a press conference on Monday where he revealed the events leading to the incident.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said what Azamuddin did was not right.
Musa declined to comment on what Azamuddin revealed to reporters but said the schoolboy would have to tell the truth in court later.
"If the trial is to be conducted through the media, then my officers can also give their statements to the media," said the IGP after handing congratulatory letters to police civilian staff in conjunction with the 203rd Police Day celebrations in Bukit Aman yesterday.
Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar Ismail, however, was more direct, accusing the family's lawyers of being behind the press conference.
Khalid had said that it was totally unethical for the boy to reveal evidence and urged the parties concerned not to turn the incident into a trial by media.
In Shah Alam later yesterday, lawyer Karpal Singh who is representing Aminulrasyid's family, claimed Azamuddin did not commit an offence by speaking to the media as he was merely giving his side of the story.
Karpal said Khalid's claims that it was tampering with evidence was not true as they were instead getting evidence.
"If the IGP can defend his men, can't we respond by giving our side. It's not a trial by media as claimed by Khalid."
He said it was wrong for the police to publicly defend the officers involved in the case.
Karpal spent about 30 minutes visiting the scene of the incident yesterday afternoon.
Azamuddin was also there to explain the sequence of events.
The lawyer added that he would request for copies of Azamuddin's statement to the police.New Straits Times, 5/5/2010, Boy's press statements irk IGP
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