KUANTAN: Police are looking for a group of men suspected of rioting, hurling abusive language towards police officers, and assaulting civilians at the fatal accident location at kilometre 127 of the Kuala Lumpur-Kuantan Road, Temerloh yesterday.
Temerloh district police chief ACP Mazlan Hassan said so far, they have arrested a 42-year-old suspect with three past records, including group robbery, theft, and under the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca).
He said three men were believed to have pushed and hurled abusive words at a sergeant assigned to the scene, while one man claimed to have been assaulted by five individuals for recording the incident involving the police officer.
"The suspect is believed to have acted in such a manner towards the uniformed police officer because he was dissatisfied and assumed that the officer did not assist the accident victim, whereas the involved officer had taken appropriate action.
"The civilian allegedly assaulted by the five men is a security guard who happened to be at the scene. The incident caused him injuries to his forehead besides all the mirrors of his car being smashed," he said in a statement.
Mazlan said the commotion was believed to have started after a group of individuals believed to be family members and friends of a 20-year-old teenager who died in the accident arrived at the scene.
The victim, who worked at a scrap metal shop, was confirmed dead at the scene due to severe head and right leg injuries after his motorcycle allegedly collided with the side of a Perodua Myvi car said to be making a U-turn at the dual carriageway lane.
However, the 75-year-old car driver was not injured, and further investigations into the accident are being carried out under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.
Investigations are also being conducted under Section 353 of the Penal Code which involves using criminal force to intimidate public servants carrying out lawful duties and Section 148 for rioting, as well as Section 427 of the same code for committing mischief.