Family of woman allegedly shot by cops goes to court for answers

A court action filed by the family of Pua Bee Chun to compel police to reveal the identity of the

person who shot her reflects a breakdown in the criminal justice system which will further erode public confidence in the force.

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo (pic) said the police should have readily provided and assisted the family on the status of the investigations instead of them (the family) resorting to such an action to find the answers.

Pua was in a car driven by Song Chee Chai in Taman Sentosa, Klang, on Jan 18, when they were allegedly chased by police. There was a shootout and Pua was killed by a shot to her chest. Song was arrested.

Pua's husband, Foo Voon Kong, has asked police on numerous occasions who shot her but was not given any answer.

"Why is it so difficult for the police to tell him who fired the shots especially where it is believed that it was police officers who fired the shots? And why is it so difficult for them to give him details on the status of the investigations?

"The police must co-operate and assist the public in cases like these. It is up to Foo if he wishes to pursue this case further to secure justice for his wife and this should not be a factor to dissuade the police from co-operating in terms of providing him with the basic information he needs to support such an action," said Gobind in a statement today.

He said such a refusal is legally and morally wrong, adding that it is because of such cases that the public find little confidence in the police.

"Reports are lodged but instead of helping, things become much more difficult instead."

Gobind urged the Attorney-General to intervene and to avoid this from becoming a precedent as it is oppressive and places the people at a severe disadvantage in trying to obtain basic information.

He said the perception created by such a situation was contrary to the efforts currently being made by the government to improve the image of the police.

Earlier this morning, Foo, a former truck driver, filed an originating summons at the Shah Alam High Court registry to compel the police to reveal the identity of the person who shot his wife.

The family's counsel, Ng Chung Yee, who filed the application, said a hearing is expected to be held next month.

"This will take some time as the court will want to get feedback from the police on the matter and if the judge decides in our favour, the police will have seven days to provide us with all the information we have requested," Ng said.

In the application, Foo requested that the police inform him about the status of their investigations, the results of the ballistic and chemical tests and to reveal the identity of the policeman being investigated in the case.

Foo was present in court with his two children aged three and four.

He said he had no choice but to file the application after attempts to seek information through normal channels failed.

"My whole life is affected. I am currently jobless as I find it difficult to juggle my time between work and my kids," he told reporters.

Foo had also sought the help of Klang MP Charles Santiago who said he had sent four letters to the police, including to the Selangor police chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah, to seek an appointment with him over the issue since March, but the latter refused to meet them. - August 19, 2013.