A 38-year-old goldsmith has alleged that he was punched, kicked and strangled by four plainclothes policemen while carrying cash and gold along Jalan Dato Keramat in Penang.

NONEThe goldsmith, who requested anonymity during his press conference with Dato Keramat assemblyperson Jagdeep Singh Deo (right in photo, with the goldsmith), also masked his face with a white towel and wore a hat and dark glasses.

According to the goldsmith, the incident took place between 4pm and 5pm on Tuesday, when he was driving from Air Itam to town via the Dato Keramat road.

He said he was abruptly stopped by four men as he neared a traffic light in front of the Pacheek bakery shop.

The men introduced themselves as policemen, showed their IDs and told him they wanted to conduct a body and car search.

They also wanted him to follow them to the Dato Keramat police station, located metres away from where they were.

“I was carrying cash and gold amounting to RM60,000 and I was afraid, so I drove to my friend’s computer shop nearby, on along Perak Road which adjoins Dato Keramat Road,” he told reporters.

“The men followed me into the shop. I told them I have no problem going with them to the police station but I wanted to telephone my mother and co-worker to accompany me,” he added.

“They told me they cannot wait and when I went to telephone my mother, they started to assault me,” he claimed.

Police say sorry

He was then handcuffed and taken to the police station and body searched, but not stripped down.

The police also searched his car and when they found nothing on him, they apologised and released him.

His mother and wife arrived at the police station about 5pm to fetch him.

The goldsmith has since lodged a police report at the northeast district police headquarters on Jalan Pattani. The report was received by Kpl Nurul Hidayah Shahban.

A CCTV recording of the assault was shown at Jagdeep’s service centre.

Jagdeep, a lawyer by profession, said that the goldsmith was “punched and kicked nine times before he was strangled. His medical report says he has a swelling in the throat due to strangulation”.

Jagdeep called on Timur Laut OCPD Gan Kon Meng to seriously and thoroughly look into the matter and act on the goldsmith’s allegations that were stated in his police report.

“Assaulting a civilian is a crime against the law. We have no problem with the police conducting a search or a police check on bodies and cars but it must be with reason and done properly,” he said.

“But the manner of the assault and treatment of the goldsmith is unwarranted and unacceptable. It should not happen at all.”

Jagdeep said he was waiting for the outcome of the police investigation before advising the goldsmith on appropriate action to take, which includes legal action against the police.

Report to be made to disciplinary department

When contacted, George Town OCPD Asst Comm Gan Kong Meng said a report on the case would be submitted to the state police headquarters disciplinary department.

He defended his men by saying that initial probe showed that the man had refused to follow the police officers to the station before the scuffle broke out.

However, Gan gave an assurance that the incident would be probed by an independent police team, and "there will be no cover up on our part".

Gan urged the victim to come forward with the CCTV footage to assist police with their investigation.

“We will send the victim for a medical check-up to be carried out.

"If there is any wrong-doing on our part, we will launch an investigation on our own men under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt,” he added.