Trader To Be Charged With Making False Report Against Cops

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Lim Lip Eng says he and his aides had warned hawker Muhammad Amar Zaid Muhammad Amir Lim about the consequences of making a false report.PETALING JAYA: A 21-year-old herbal soup seller will be charged in the Kuala Lumpur court tomorrow for making a false police report against three police officers, Sentul police have confirmed.
This comes after Muhammad Amar Zaid Muhammad Amir Lim decided to change his police statement and withdraw allegations that he was extorted by three police officers on June 2 for failing to produce a letter of permission to operate his herbal soup stall during the total lockdown.
According to Malaysiakini, Amar Zaid, who is also known as Lim Thiam Fook, wanted to change his statement because he admitted to making false accusations and that the whole extortion incident did not take place.
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, in a press conference on June 15, had denounced the trader who was with him, for having “cheated” the police, the media and the public.
The MP said Amar Zaid decided to change his statement after being interrogated by the police on June 14.
Lim added that his assistants, who accompanied Amar Zaid and the investigation officers, had repeatedly reminded the trader about the consequences of making a false report.
He apologised to all parties, especially to the police force and the media, for the “huge mistake”.
However, Amar Zaid denied lying and insisted he was extorted by the three police officers.
He stressed that the reason he changed his police statement was because he wanted the matter settled as soon as possible, due to the pressure he was facing.
“I am just a trader. But now I have to go to the police station almost every day… I need to work and I do not want this to take any longer. This is just a waste of time since I could not recognise the (alleged) officers too.
“I was hoping to settle this issue as soon as possible. That is why I decided to retract my earlier statement,” he said.
Asked if he was clear about the consequences of changing his earlier statement to the police, Amar Zaid said he did think about it and was willing to face any consequences.
He repeatedly said he was not lying about the extortion incident but had only decided not to pursue it any further.
On June 6, Amar Zaid and his 13-year-old assistant, accompanied by Lim, held a press conference during which he claimed that he was extorted by three police officers while driving to a food court in the early morning of June 2.
Amar Zaid said the policemen found out that he did not have an approval letter from the international trade and industry ministry (Miti) to operate during the lockdown and threatened to detain him and his assistant if they could not pay a fine of RM3,000.
He also alleged that the police officers also poured his stew onto the ground, saying that they had to “check for drugs” before taking RM500 from him to “settle the issue”. - FMT

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