Share |

Saturday 21 May 2011

DAP man’s son – from victim to suspect

The branch leader is confused why his son, who was slashed, has now been remanded for a week while his assailants remain free.

BUTTERWORTH: A local DAP leader is confused why his son, who was attacked by a group of motorcyclists, has been remanded for a week in connection with the case.

Bagan Luar branch chairman G Asoghan wanted to know why his son, Suria Pragasam, 26, the branch youth wing chief, was being “treated like a suspect when he was the victim.”

“Police should have detained the assailants not the victims,” he told FMT.

Asoghan could not get any official answer from the North Seberang Perai (SPU) district police headquarters either.

The DAP man said he could not get in touch with the investigating officer, only known as Inspector Azlizan, district police chief Zulkifli Alias or other officers in SPU.

He claimed that none of them responded to his numerous calls.

He alleged that his request to meet with the relevant officers when he went to the SPU police headquarters in Kepala Batas was also turned down.

“I was told that the investigating officer did not want to meet anyone until he finished investigating the case. This is unfair, the family has the right to know what is going on,” he said.

Attempts by FMT to contact Azlizan and Zulkifli were also futile.

Until Friday, Asoghan was even prohibited from visiting his son at the Seberang Jaya Hospital, where the latter had been undergoing treatment since last Tuesday’s incident.

The distraught father then sought the assistance of Bagan Dalam assemblyman A Thanasekaran, a lawyer, to facilitate his visit.

Following Thanasekaran’s request, Asoghan was allowed to visit his injured son.

Suria had claimed that he and two others were hacked with machetes by a group of motorcyclists during a temple festival on Wesak Day.

The trio were sitting with some friends in Taman Mewah here around 8pm when a group of some 20 motorcyclists armed with machetes, knives and helmets attacked them.

Suria and his friend Gopinath, who had also been remanded, sustained slash wounds on their arms and heads.

Meanwhile, Thanasekaran said he would liaise with the investigating officer to obtain details on the duo’s detention.

FMT learnt that the police now plan to detain the two under the Emergency Ordinance.

No comments: