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Saturday, 12 April 2014

MIC, MCA slam cops for inaction in Deepa's case - Malaysiakini

An MIC leader has taken Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar to task for saying the report lodged by S Deepa against her estranged Muslim convert husband for snatching away their son will not be investigated.

Calling it an “irresponsible” stand, party director of strategy S Vell Paari said the police should not hide behind the excuse that Izwan Abdullah has a Syariah Court order granting him custody.

“If that is the case, he should have first gone to the police station, and then to his ex-wife’s house with a police officer. Or his lawyer should have contacted Deepa’s lawyer.

“But he did not do this. He snatched the boy and fled. Deepa also claimed that she was dragged and kicked. This is not the behaviour of someone with a court order, but rather of someone who has utter disrespect for the law,” he said.

Vell Paari (centre in photo) also asked if the police are not going to probe Deepa’s claim that she was assaulted by Izwan during the incident, as stated in her police report.

“Does her husband have immunity because he works with an Islamic movement? Where is the fairness? The IGP should not use this excuse and must act against the man,” he added.

Vell Paari also noted that Deepa’s lawyers plan to cite Izwan for contempt of court.

What if the roles had been reversed?

“So if the court rules that he acted in contempt, will the IGP maintain the same stand and thus act in contempt of court himself?” he asked.

Another pertinent question, he added, is what would have the police done if the roles had been reversed and Deepa had snatched the child instead.

“So going by what the IGP says, Deepa has all the right to go in a 4WD with some friends and snatch the boy and drag Izwan for a few metres on the road and the police can’t act because there are two court orders.

“I am sure a lot of Malaysians would like to accompany Deepa to get the child back because police said clearly that they can’t act,” he said.

Vell Paari said he would get MIC Youth leader S Sivaraajh to take a delegation to meet Khalid over this matter and to press for action.

Former Malaysia Hindu Sangam president A Vaithilingam also criticised Khalid for his position, stressing that only the civil court can serve justice in cases such as Deepa’s.

“Proper justice can only be served in a court where all parties have fair and equal opportunities,” Vaithilingam said in a statement today.

Police must enforce secular laws

MCA also weighed in with its own criticism, with its Syariah Law and Policy Implementation Special Task Force deputy chairperson Koo Chin Nam saying that the police’s role is to “enforce secular laws”.

“Not only are Izwan’s actions in total contempt of the custody order awarded to S Deepa by the Seremban High Court, he also endangered her life when she was dragged by the four-wheel drive vehicle when she tried to rescue her son,” Koo said.

“Besides abduction, Izwan has also violated the restraining order served on him under the Domestic Violence Act.

“Izwan should be also charged with child endangerment and assault on Deepa,” Koo added, urging the police to take action against the driver of the vehicle used by Izwan to take his son away from his ex-wife.

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