Accused of stealing, disabled youth bashed up by public

It broke her heart to learn that her disabled son was allegedly beaten up by the public after he was accused of stealing in Kampung Teluk here last night.

Noraini Hassan said she was informed of the incident at 10pm by a neighbour. She was shocked that her son, Mohd Shufri Mat Said who is disabled on the left side of his body, including his arm and leg, was beaten up and sustained serious injuries.

Her son became disabled after being involved in an accident several years ago, Noraini said.

“I am outraged that despite only being suspected of stealing, my son was bashed up without mercy.

“If my son has been proven guilty, then he should be handed over to the police for further action, not for the public to unlawfully take the matter into their own hands.”

Noraini was met when she lodged a police report regarding the incident. She asked for the authorities to conduct a detailed investigation and act against those who beat up her son.

She said as Muslims, the villagers should not act at their whim and fancy but to first gather evidence.

“With my son’s impairment, it’s impossible for him to commit the crime,” she said with tears running down her cheeks.

The mother-of-five pleaded to the public to not do the same thing towards other people.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Kota Bharu police chief ACP Rohami Mat Isa confirmed the incident and said the matter was being investigated.

It is understood that beating up suspects of theft by members of the public was not something new in Kelantan.

Last Nov 5, a Form Three boy was bashed up and stripped naked in front of a mosque because he was believed to have wanted to steal a motorcycle.

Kelantan Mufti Datuk Muhamad Shukri Muhamad subsequently condemned the act by the perpetrators.

Before that, another teen was also assaulted and forced to ‘duck-walk’ to the police station for allegedly committing the same crime.

In December 2010, two men were beaten to death by villagers for allegedly stealing a motorcycle.