Kuala Lumpur police have recorded a statement from Malaysiakini photojournalist Koh Jun Lin over his police report alleging police misconduct while he was covering the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28.

Over 90 minutes yesterday, investigating officer Afandi Kasiman asked questions about Koh’s observations, with particular interest on hats or unit insignias that the police personnel involved might have been wearing.

 

NONE “Since you can’t recognise the officers involved, I hope to at least pinpoint their units. The police personnel stationed at Dataran Merdeka that day came from many places outside Kuala Lumpur, such as Perak, Pahang...,” explained Afandi.

 

He acknowledged that some units had arrived late and had not heard the briefings. This could have resulted in confusion, he claimed.

However, Affandi could not provide any information on the camera memory card confiscated from Koh, saying he thought it had been returned.

In fact, he said,he had hoped that Koh would be able to provide photos that could be used to identify police officers engaged in alleged wrongdoing.

NONE Koh was taking pictures of police breaking up a group of protesters at the intersection of Jalan Raja and Jalan Tun Perak about 5.30pm that day when he was detained , punched once, and had his camera memory card confiscated, despite identifying himself as a reporter.

 

He lodged a police report at Dang Wangi district police headquarters the following day.

Other complaints

At least a dozen other media practitioners have also complained of police brutality while covering the rally, ranging from being manhandled or beaten, to having their equipment destroyed or confiscated.

 

NONE TV Al-Hijrah videographer Mohd Azri Mohd Salleh ( right ) alleged that he was beaten by protesters while attempting to save a police officer from attack, and was hospitalised for his injuries as a result.

Two police officers have been charged with assaulting Guang Ming Daily photographer Wong Onn Kin.

theSun reporter Radzi Razak, who was hospitalised with a broken jaw after allegedly being beaten by several police personnel, was called to an identification parade on May 17 but failed to identify his assailants.

A second ID parade was slated for last Friday, but has been postponed indefinitely.