A lawyer has urged the police to exercise restraint when disclosing details of ongoing investigations, warning that premature revelations could jeopardise a suspect’s right to a fair trial.
S Vinesh, whose client is expected to be charged with murder at the Ipoh magistrates’ court tomorrow, said police should have refrained from publicly sharing findings relating to an Aug 27 incident which forms the basis of the charge.
“Investigations are still underway, and publicising selective details risks prejudicing the legal process,” the lawyer told FMT.
Last week, Ipoh police chief Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad told the media that CCTV footage showed the victim being chased by a white lorry before a scuffle occurred involving the suspect.
In a Sinar Harian report, Abang Zainal was quoted as saying the victim fell, was run over, and left at the scene.
Vinesh said the proper approach would be simply for the police to state that the case is still under investigation for murder, and that they were reviewing CCTV footage.
He said the release of detailed findings of the probe could compromise his client’s right to a fair trial by shaping public perception.
The principle of innocent until proven guilty must be upheld, Vinesh said, adding that the disclosure of details could generate bias among the public.
He also said that speculation on social media could influence public perception, potential witnesses, and those involved in the investigation.
“It is unfair to disclose these kinds of details to the public while an investigation is still ongoing. It is prejudicial to my client and has affected his family,” said Vinesh.
“The matter was still under investigation, so why was such information revealed to the public? If the police had simply said the case is being probed (for murder) under Section 302 – without adding details like ‘chased’, ‘scuffle’, or ‘run over’ – it would have avoided influencing public opinion.
“I hope that for future cases, the police can refrain from disclosing evidence mid-investigation as it turns netizens into a ‘jury’ and unfairly prejudices the individuals under investigation.
“I understand that the police are just doing their job in helping the victim seek justice, but they should also consider suspects’ rights,” the lawyer said.
In the Sinar Harian report, Abang Zainal said the victim was discovered by a hotel worker at around 6am lying in a pool of blood in an alley near Jalan Horley, Kampung Jawa.
A post-mortem conducted at the Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun’s forensics department determined the cause of death to be head and chest injuries resulting from a road accident.
