BENTONG: Bentong law enforcement authorities said they are tracking down an individual who allegedly spread a false message via a mobile phone claiming that the police refused to accept a report related to an alleged assault incident last week.
"We are tracking down the suspect who allegedly started spreading the fake message and those with information can come forward to the nearest police station to assist," district police chief Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar said in a statement today.
Zaiham said the viral message is not true and urged the public to ignore it.
Police, he said, recorded a statement on Dec 24 and are actively investigating the report lodged by a courier delivery worker.
"Based on our records, the delivery worker had lodged a police report at about 4.30pm on Dec 24 claiming he was attacked by an individual about 3.30pm at the parking area of a holiday resort in Janda Baik," he said.
Zaiham said the case is being investigated under the charge of voluntarily causing hurt, which carries a penalty of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, upon conviction.
He added that authorities are thoroughly examining the matter and appropriate legal action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
Hence, Zaiham said, the viral WhatsApp message, which claimed that a delivery worker stabbed in the eye by a customer had attempted to file a report at the Janda Baik police beat, Bukit Tinggi police station, and Bentong police headquarters — only for his complaint to be rejected — is false.
The viral message is inaccurate, and there is no truth to the allegation that police refused to accept the delivery worker's report, he said.
"Bentong police discovered the (false viral message) screenshot about 1.30pm yesterday (Dec 29)," Zaiham said.
Subsequently, an assistant investigating officer attached to the district Criminal Investigation Department lodged a report on the fake message, he added.