IGP: Doctor ran when cops gave orders
KUALA LUMPUR: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar yesterday expressed regret over an incident where the Special Task Force on Organised Crime (Stafoc) unit allegedly manhandled a medical officer at Serdang Hospital during an operation to ambush suspected robbers.
However, Khalid said investigations showed that the team had followed standard operating procedures (SOP) during the operation.
“There is nothing for us to apologise over what happened that day. The Stafoc team did what they were trained to do and followed the SOP.
“Therefore, there is nothing for police to apologise for, although I regret what had happened,” he said.
Khalid said the task force unit was going after armed suspects and had its own way in handling criminals.
He said on the day of the incident, the team had ordered everyone at the ambush site to stand still. However, the doctor chose to run.
“The doctor ran when he was ordered to stop.
“When police tell you not to run, you stay put,” he said, adding that the Stafoc team had no choice but to apprehend the doctor.
In the Oct 7 incident, Dr Thanenran Renganathan, clad in a blue scrub suit and with a stethoscope around his neck, was allegedly assaulted and kicked to the ground by masked police.
The incident happened in the vicinity of food stalls outside Serdang Hospital.
It was learnt that the unit was going after suspected criminals who had escaped to the hospital compound. Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar
Inspector-general of police