IGP says apology to Aminulrasyid’s kin not needed, minister says may appeal court case

CHERAS, March 26 ― Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar insisted today that he does not owe an apology to the family of a schoolboy shot dead six years ago despite a recent court ruling that found the Inspector-General of Police guilty of public misfeasance.

The country’s highest ranking policeman said his remarks suggesting criminality on Aminulrasyid Amzah were based on factual information available at that time.

“I will not apologise as my statement was based on the facts of the case that time. The fact shows that the parang was in the car, so my statement was based on the true fact,” he told reporters after attending the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation general meeting here.

“So no reason for me to apologise. I did not even say that the late Aminulrasyid used the parang, I said it was found in the car,” he added.

Khalid was the Selangor police chief when the incident happened in 2010 and according to past news reports, he had remarked to a news conference that a parang or machete was found in the car that the 14-year-old had driven.

The Form Three schoolboy was shot dead after being chased by a police patrol car which suspected its occupants of criminal activity in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who was also at the same event demurred when asked to weigh in on whether or not the IGP should apologise to the family.

He added that the courts should decide as Khalid had made the remarks in his official capacity then.

However, Ahmad Zahid who is also deputy prime minister indicated that the IGP may appeal the High Court’s judgment last Thursday that favoured Aminulrasyid’s family.

“I think let the due process of law takes place, Tan Sri IGP acted not on his personal capacity but on his official position. I reckon he will appeal to higher courts.

“Let the court decide after an appeal to the higher court,” he told reporters.

On Thursday, the High Court ruled in favour of Aminulrasyid’s family in their civil lawsuit against the police officer who fired the killing shot, the IGP and the federal government.

Judge Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim pointed out that there was no proof to substantiate Khalid’s claim during a press conference after the fatal shooting that the police acted after discovering a machete in the car Aminulrasyid was driving.

Khalid was ordered to pay RM100,000 in damages to the family for public misfeasance.