Detained for obstructing civil servants
Police have arrested a man who was attempting to escape after provoking and obstructing civil servants from discharging their duties during a Covid-19 operation in Taman Semarak, Tawau.
TAWAU: Police have arrested a man who was attempting to escape after provoking and obstructing civil servants from discharging their duties during a Covid-19 operation in Taman Semarak, here, last Saturday.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali said the 37-year-old suspect was alleged to have purposely followed the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP) compliance monitoring team's vehicle while recording a video using his mobile phone.
“The suspect has uttered harsh and provocative words towards the team which includes personnel from the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) and Civil Defence Force, besides raising his voice and refusing to cooperate when asked to issue his identity document,” he said, when contacted, here yesterday.
Hazani said the suspect had almost hit a Rela personnel while trying to escape but he was later arrested and taken to the Tawau District Police Headquarters.
Previously, a video of a man chasing after the SOP compliance monitoring team's vehicle while making a video recording and uttering provocative words had gone viral on social media.
District police chief ACP Peter Ak Umbuas said the suspect had tailed the patrol vehicle and used a mobile phone to a do a video recording.
"Upon arriving at the Pasar Semarak area, the police personnel detained the suspect and asked him why he was moving freely during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period," he said.
He said the suspect refused to cooperate when asked by the complainant to show his identification documents. Instead he raised his voice and provoked the team resulting in his arrest.
Peter said when the suspect was at the Tawau police station, he acted aggressively and refused to cooperate with the police to hand over his mobile phone for investigation.
He said the investigation is being carried out in accordance with Section 188 of the Penal Code for violating an order declared by a civil servant, Regulation 25 (1) (n) of the National Registration Regulations 1990 for the offense of not carrying an identity card, Section 8 (1) (e) of the Sabah Minor Offenses Ordinance for disturbing public order and Section 90 of the Police Act 1967 for misconduct at the police station.
He added that police also detected a video clip that had been going round on social media about the incident and confirmed that it took place in Tawau.
Peter advised the public to always follow the instructions that have been set to avoid the spread of Covid-19 infection, adding that any act of provocation by any party will be acted upon under the relevant laws.