MALACCA: The bank manager who accused the police of detaining him for three days for not wearing his seatbelt was actually arrested for refusing to produce his MyKad and driving licence.
Malacca police chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye also denied any abuse of power in the arrest of Hiew Kok Ming, 26, on May 28 here.

“He was arrested for refusing to produce his identity card and driving licence, and not because he was not wearing a seatbelt. The public should know that they are legally bound to hand over personal documents like MyKad when authorities request for it,” he said here yesterday.

Asked why Hiew, who is a DAP member, had been held for three days, SAC Chuah said the remand order was sought to record all necessary statements.

SAC Chuah said Hiew had also questioned the authority of the policeman who requested him to produce his MyKad and driving licence when he was flagged down in Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho at about 9pm.

In a report on an online news portal, the manager had accused the Malacca police of arresting, handcuffing and putting him in the lock-up for three days for not wearing his seatbelt while driving with his four friends in a multi-purpose vehicle.

SAC Chuah claimed that Hiew had initially refused to stop his car despite being flagged down by police and only did so after driving some 150m.

He said although Hiew produ- ced his MyKad after several requests, he only gave a receipt of his renewal for driving licence.

“He even started scolding my officer in a Chinese dialect and only stopped when the officer called for reinforcement,” he said, adding that the report on the case has been han-ded over to the deputy prosecutor’s office for further action.