KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2, 2014:
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said police would launch an investigation into the alleged assault of a newspaper photographer at the funeral of three MH17 victims this morning.
Khalid was referring to the incident at Nirvana Memorial Park, Sungai Besi, where a photographer with the New Straits Times, Mohd Aizuddin Akmal Saad, 29, was allegedly attacked by a family member of a victim.
“We take this matter seriously and will be taking serious action against those involved in the assault,” he said.
Mohd Aizuddin was one of many media personnel covering the funeral of MH17 victims Paul Goes, his wife Subashni Jretnam and daughter Kaela Maya Jay Goes.
Khalid said he understood that the family was grieving and sympathised with them, but as emotional as they may be, they should not go overboard and lash out at others.
“For members of the media, be understanding and do not push the grieving family too much.
“Give them the space and privacy that they need,” advised Khalid.
Meanwhile, Brickfields police chief Asst Commissioner Muhammad Azlee Abdullah confirmed that he had received the police report lodged by Mohd Aizuddin.
“We have opened an investigation paper under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt,” he said.
In the report lodged at 1pm today, Mohd Aizuddin claimed that he was attacked out of the blue and was punched on the nose.
He reportedly suffered a 2cm tear along the bridge of his nose and received treatment at a clinic in Sungai Besi.
“The doctor said his nose was probably fractured, but advised him to get an X-ray to confirm if it was broken,” said Mohd Aizuddin’s wife, who only wanted to be known as Amy, 30.
“We will be going to the National University of Malaysia Medical Centre later in the evening to get a proper check-up.”