SUBANG JAYA: The arrest of an autistic man to facilitate investigation into a molest case was conducted in accordance with the standard operating procedure (SOP).
Subang Jaya district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Azlin Sadari said the 22-year-old man was detained following a report made by the victim on Sept 11.
“District sexual, women and child investigations division (D11) arrested the man after the 24-year-old victim positively identified the man along with other witnesses who were with her during the incident.
“The arrest was made to facilitate investigation and to give justice to both parties,” he said in a statement today.
He added district police headquarters gave priority to the case and the investigation was expected to be completed soon.
“The results of the investigation will be taken on the basis of the right of the victim and the accused.
“We believe actions taken in carrying out this investigation are based on the SOP and acting in accordance with the law,” said Mohamad Azlin, adding the case was being investigated under Section 354 of the Penal Code.
He said those who needed further verification on the case could contact him or Info Line Polis Selangor at 012-6009999.
Meanwhile, netizens have been criticising the victim’s parents who lodged a police report even after the accused’s family members explained that he was autistic.
Netizens also condemned police over their arrest of the man.
Police had applied for a remand order against the autistic man to facilitate investigation but the application was rejected by the Petaling Jaya court on Sept 12.
It was learnt that the man was celebrating his birthday with his family at a restaurant in Subang Jaya when he was alleged to have touched the chest of a woman.
In a Facebook posting, believed to have uploaded by the man’s mother, she said her son “ran out and visited some of the shops around the restaurant” during the celebration when the alleged incident took place.
“It was supposed to have been a lovely birthday celebration for my son with autism. As usual, when he goes to his favourite place, Logenhaus for dinner, he will run out and visit some of the shops. This time was no different. Except this time, it was different.
“I did not realise that he actually touched the chest of an adult girl and she appeared traumatised and the parents made a police report against him, despite all my explanation about his condition. The father shouted at me and called me careless and refused to listen to reason,” the mother wrote.