Engineer: I was manhandled by cops

(The Star) - BUKIT MERTAJAM: A 27-year-old engineer has lodged a report alleging that a team of police had manhandled him and that they did not have a warrant to search his flat at Taman Permai Jaya here.

Ooi Seng Yeong said that a group of men claiming to be policemen from the Central Seberang Prai district came to his flat at 1.30am on Saturday purportedly looking for drugs.

He said he initially refused to open the door.

“I relented when they threatened to break open the door and upon entering I asked for their authority cards.

“One of them flicked out a card and moments later, I was handcuffed before they took me to my room to search for drugs. They did not find anything,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference called by Berapit assemblyman Lau Chiek Tuan on Saturday, Ooi said the policemen then took him to the bathroom where he was tested negative for drugs using a urine sample.

When satisfied that he was clean, the policemen removed the handcuff and left the flat.

He complained to Lau who later accompanied him to the district police headquarters here to lodge a police report.

Lau urged the police to be more professional when conducting searches as Ooi endured tremendous embarrassment because neighbours watched the whole raiding episode.

“This would not have happened had the police been more humane in their approach,” said Lau.

OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Anil Shah Abdullah, who confirmed the report, said that he would investigate the matter.