Low Yat brawler 'shocked' over aftermath
The alleged accomplice to the mobile phone thief who was nabbed at Low Yat Plaza on Saturday has expressed "shock" at how the issue had blown up.
The alleged accomplice of the mobile phone thief who sparked off the fracas at Low Yat plaza is shocked over how the incident escalated.
This was revealed by his lawyer Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz ( photo ).
The suspect, who is in his early 20s, was among seven people involved in a brawl with staff manning a handphone kiosk at the mall.
"No. They don't represent any organisations. In fact, when I asked him about the incident, he was shocked.
"They are just youths who sometimes make mistakes. They did not expect this to become a huge racial issue," said Khairul Azam.
The lawyer was speaking to reporters after representing Shahrul Anwar Abdul Aziz, 22, who was charged with theft at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court this morning.
The alleged accomplice was arrested together with Shahrul Anwar on Saturday.
Accused made to pose
However, he was set free and allegedly later persuaded six other friends to exact revenge for the arrest.
The group returned to Low Yat Plaza several hours later and attacked workers and caused damage to a handphone kiosk.
Staff in Low Yat Plaza proceeded to beat up the group. The following night, a mob of 200 people turned up at the entrance of Low Yat Plaza and started to riot.
At least seven people were injured and 19 people were arrested for rioting.
While posting bail, Shahrul Anwar appeared despondent.
Strangely, his lawyer decided to pose him in front of press photographers. Shahrul Anwar could only manage an awkward smile.
Unlike Shahrul Anwar, his parents chose to cover their faces when approached by photographers.
IGP accused of lying
Meanwhile, Khairul Azam said statements made by inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar against the alleged accomplice were "prejudicial lies".
"Firstly, Khalid said two people had gone to the shop to steal, but my client (the alleged accomplice) informed me that only one person (Shahrul Anwar) had gone up (to the shop).
"Secondly, when he (the alleged accomplice) was released, he was accused of spreading rumours that (Shahrul Anwar) had been cheated into buying a fake phone.
"This is a lie by the IGP which is prejudicial to my client [...] The IGP should not make baseless statements [...] This is why the people don't trust the police and judiciary" he said.
Khairul Azam added the alleged accomplice never contacted anyone, including blogger Papagomo, regarding the rumours that Shahrul Anwar was cheated, nor had he posted anything about it.
He said he was unaware of how the rumour on fake phones came about.
Khairul Azam said a team of lawyers would be defending the suspects in the Low Yat case, although at the moment he only has information on two of them.
He would be taking on the case pro-bono .
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