Malaysian policeman charged with fatal shooting of teen after national outcry over brutality

Malaysian policeman charged with killing teenager

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian prosecutors charged a police officer Monday with fatally shooting a teenager in an incident that triggered a national outcry over claims of police brutality.

It is the first time a policeman has been charged over the killing of a suspect in this Southeast Asian country. Activists say Malaysia’s police have fatally shot more than 180 suspects, half of them Indonesians, since 2007.

The death of 14-year-old Aminulrasyid Amzah following a car chase last month has been a publicity nightmare for the police, which have long been criticized by human rights activists for allegedly often shooting without due cause.

Aminulrasyid was killed by a bullet to the head while driving a car without a license at night. Police accused Aminulrasyid of reversing his car into them after they cornered him. But Aminulrasyid’s friend in the car alleged they were shot at while speeding away.

Jenain Subi, a member of a police patrol unit in central Selangor state, pleaded innocent in a district court Monday to a charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment, said prosecutor Mohamad Dusuki Mokhtar.

Jenain was released on bail ahead of a hearing scheduled for June 10.

Three other policemen were at the scene, they were not expected to be charged because Jenain was allegedly the one who fired the shot that killed the boy on April 26, Mohamad Dusuki said.

Latheefa Koya, a lawyer representing Aminulrasyid’s family, urged the government and police to be more transparent in their investigation.

“All those responsible must be charged,” she said. “It’s clearly a matter of public interest.”

Many Malaysians have voiced anger over Aminulrasyid’s shooting, saying police need to overhaul their procedures in apprehending suspects and be more accountable for their actions.

On Saturday, a policeman in another state was detained after shooting a 15-year-old in the stomach during a vehicle chase. The teenager was recovering in hospital, and it was not immediately clear whether the policeman would be charged.