‘Cops molested me’ woman charged instead

Wong Bee Fong, who claimed that she was molested by 11 policemen, has been charged with obstructing the police from carrying out their duty.

PUTRAJAYA: A 39-year-old finance accountant, who recently highlighted her plight of being allegedly molested by a group of 11 policemen seven years ago, found herself in the dock instead.

Wong Bee Fong was charged this morning with voluntarily obstructing the duties of public officer lance corporal Muhammad Faudzi Abdul Aziz on Aug 13, 2004 at 2.30am, Brigate Tengah PGA, Batu 11, Cheras.

Wearing a pink top and jeans at the Kajang magistrate court which held its sessions here, a hand-cuffed Wong pleaded not guilty.

The offence comes under Section 186 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of two years prison, or RM10,000 fine or both.

Deputy public prosecutor R Siamalah applied for bail to be set at RM5,000 while Wong’s lawyer Keppy Wong asked for it to be reduced to RM500.

Keppy said his client was arrested last night and was put in the Batu 11 lock-up for a day and a high bail would constitute a punishment.

“The conditions of the arrest warrant, which was issued on Sept 5 was not adhered to. She was not allowed a police bail,” he said.

Keppy said the charge was related to an incident where his client had lodged a police report about her modesty being outraged by 11 policemen seven years ago.

Magistrate A Akhiruddin @ Boy Acho fixed bail at RM2,000 with one surety. The mention date was set at Dec 5.

Charge was ‘mala fide’

Speaking to reporters later, Keppy said the charge against his client was done in mala fide (bad faith) and amounted to a “revenge by the police”.

“My client is disappointed that the Attorney-General’s Chambers decided to charge her instead of the 11 policemen who outraged her decency.

“And this, after seven years, and two months right after she highlighted police inaction in the media? You did not even charge her seven years ago and no statement was taken from her employer, an important witness,” he added.

Keppy said his client was “unnecessarily” arrested at her home last night at 11.30pm. Police had allegedly kicked at her door and threatened to cut open her lock, before bringing her to a lock-up .

“The police and prosecution have had no indication that she would abscond and should not have arrested her,” he said.

Keppy said that the police had also “grossly violated” the arrest warrant that allowed a police bail, citing the recent case of 11 municipal councilors who were charged with a similar offence but were simply called to the court via telephone.

Traumatic episode

In August, the media reported that Wong held a press conference highlighting her alleged molest and “unlawful detention” in 2004.

She said that the traumatic episode left her scarred and fearful of men, but police had not taken any action till now.

In the incident, Wong had said she was travelling home in her car with her employer when they were stopped at a roadblock near Taman Connaught, Cheras.

Policemen allegedly accused her of drunk driving, an accusation she denied then. They confiscated her IC and driving licence and allegedly even demanded RM3,000 to settle the case. Wong also claimed that they threatened to take her into custody if she did not do so.

Feeling uncomfortable with the way they were dealing with her, Wong had driven off, and a Proton Wira gave chase.

When she was at the General Operations Force headquarters, a car rammed into her car, and another patrol car arrived, and 10 policemen began kicking and knocking on her car and demanded that she get out of the vehicle.

Wong was allegedly dragged out and molested by 11 men there, while her 56-year-old male employer stood aside helplessly.

“They made me feel like a fool and they just stood there laughing,” she had told the press. She had subsequently lodged a police report but instead, police investigated her for obstruction.

Keppy said he believed police did not even open up an investigation paper on her molest case.