from: Malaysiakini


A 30-year-old single mother who sustained five gunshot wounds when policemen opened fire on a car that she was travelling in wants those involved to be investigated for attempted murder.

Pending investigations, Norizan Salleh said the police personnel should also be suspended.

Accompanied by some 30 representatives from various political parties and civil society groups, Norizan submitted a memorandum, addressed to Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan, to a public relations officer at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

The four-page memorandum was inked by PKR, DAP, Human Rights Party, Lawyers for Liberty, Civil Liberties Malaysia, Police Watch Malaysia and the Group of Concerned Citizens.

Expressing concern over the rising incidents of ‘unjustified police shootings’, the groups made eight demands.

These include the immediate arrest of the policemen involved in the shooting and for Musa to explain to the public why this ’shocking’ case was kept under wraps.

The memorandum also underscored the importance of establishing the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

‘Cop kicked me when I cried for help’

Norizan, who was hit in the chest and wrist, also alleged that the policemen had pulled her out of the car and assaulted her, resulting in a broken rib.

Recounting the ordeal, the single mother said: “An officer kicked me when I cried for help… I felt like I was in a movie.”

Her parents, who were present, were reduced to tears when their daughter revealed how she had cheated death.

Norizan, who is said to have suffered permanent damage to her hand as a result of her injuries, also had a bullet lodged close to her heart removed by surgery.

The shooting occurred along the Middle Ring Road (MRR II) in Kuala Lumpur in the wee hours of the morning.

Speaking to reporters later, Norizan’s lawyer N Surendran said his client got a lift home to Segambut from a friend, who was traveling with two other people, whom she did not know.

The other three, who have since been arrested, had escaped unscathed. Following investigations, Norizan was cleared of any wrongdoing.

“Police cannot discharge a firearm unless there is a threat to the enforcing officer,” Surendran said, adding that the passengers were unarmed.

“Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohd Sabtu Osman’s declaration of the policemen’s innocence without investigation is an insult to the victim,” he added.

Surendran also claimed that one those arrested was hung upside down by the police and had chilli spread all over his body in an attempt to get him to confess to armed robbery.

‘They tried to mow down our men’

Defending his men’s actions, Kuala Lumpur CID chief Ku Chin Wah said policemen on patrol came across the car that was being driven in a suspicious manner.

“Police ordered the car to stop but the suspects accelerated away in the direction of Selayang and onwards to Gombak.

“Police had to fire shots in the direction of the car when the suspects tried to mow down our men,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

However, Norizan, who was in the backseat, claimed that she did not see the policemen trying to stop the car but only caught a glimpse of them aiming their guns at the car.

The police have classified the case as an accident and have refused to pay for Norizan’s medical expenses, amounting to RM18,000.

Norizan is also planning to sue the police for damages.

‘From the horse’s mouth’

Meanwhile, PKR parliamentarian Zuraida Kamaruddin, who was one of those present, issued an ultimatum to federal CID director Mohd Bakri Zinin.

“He must issue a statement (on the investigation) within 24 hours…If not, PKR will mobilise a more serious protest,” she stressed.

Zuraida also said she will raise this matter with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

According to the Ampang MP, Norizan’s case was first brought to the attention of the MCA complaints bureau but no action was taken, following which it was brought to PKR.

“They practice a ‘you scratch my back, I scratch yours’ policy and wanted to close the case,” she charged.

Also calling for a thorough investigation was DAP Teluk Intan MP M Manogaran.

“Today, we get it from the horse’s mouth,” he said, adding that other police shooting victims in the past had succumbed to their injuries before telling their tale.

He also vowed to raise the matter in Parliament when it reconvenes on March 15.

Manogaran also urged Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail to give him and Surendran the fiat to prosecute the policemen involved for attempted murder on behalf of the people of Malaysia.

Whereas PKR Kapar MP S Manickavasagam demanded an explanation from Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

MEMO




Tan Sri Musa Hassan,

Inspector General of Police,

Bukit Aman

MEMORANDUM OF PROTEST

Shooting by police of Norizan Bte. Salleh

The Facts

1) On 30.10.2009, 29 years old Norizan bt Salleh was shot 5 times by police.

2) Norizan was travelling in a car when the incident happened.  Without justification, police shot at the car from behind, the bullets penetrating through the body of the car and hitting Norizan who was seated at the back seat.

3) After being shot, Norizan was then kicked and stepped on by the police personnel despite bleeding profusely from being shot.

4) No person in the car was armed with any weapon and there was no threat of any kind to the police.  Despite this, police chose to open fire repeatedly at the car.

5) Norizan is an innocent woman who has never been charged in court for any crime.  She has suffered serious injuries including permanent damage to her hand.  A bullet lodged close to her heart had to be removed by surgery at Institute Jantung Negara.  Norizan is lucky to be alive today!

6) Norizan lodged a police report on 16.11.2009 complaining of attempted murder by police, but no action has been taken by the authorities against the culprits.

Increasing incidents of unjustified police shootings

1) Activists, lawyers and elected representatives have raised the issue of unjustified shootings by police on many occasions, but have been ignored by both the Police Force and the Government.

2) In almost every case, the police version of the events has been similar; that the victims opened fire and police returned fire, killing all of them.  It has been easy for police to get away with this version, as the victims are usually dead and the truth buried.  This has also been the police version in two recent shooting cases. [Kulim shooting (February 2009) and Klang shooting (November 2009)].

3) Norizan’s shocking case proves that unjustified shootings by police have reached dangerous levels.

4) The brutality with which Norizan was treated after the shooting indicates the extent and seriousness of problems in the Police Force.

WE THE UNDERSIGNED DEMAND:-

1) An immediate investigation by a Bukit Aman team specially set-up for this purpose;

2) The result of the investigation be made fully public;

3) All those police personnel involve in Norizan’s brutal shooting be suspended/arrested immediately;

4) That the case be classified as attempted murder;

5) That there be immediate and thorough reform of the Police Force;

6) That the IGP explain to the public why the police have never revealed this shocking incident to the public;

7) The leadership of the police support the setting up of the IPCMC.

8) That all suspicious police shooting cases over the past decade be re-opened.

Endorsed by,

1) Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)

2) Civil Liberties Malaysia

3) Democratic Action Party (DAP)

4) Human Right Party (HRP)

5) Police Watch Malaysia & Human Rights Committee

6) Group of Concerned Citizens(GCC)

7) Lawyers for Liberty.