Datuk T trio may face charges
By Austin Camoens and Siri Habibu, The Star
PETALING JAYA: Police will recommend to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to charge the Datuk T trio with distributing and screening a sex video featuring a man who resembled Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“We may charge the trio with distributing pornographic materials as we are investigating the case under Section 292 of the Penal Code,” Deputy CID director Deputy Comm Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said.
“Police are expected to wrap up investigations this week,” he said yesterday.
DCP Acryl said police had submitted the investigation papers to the A-G’s Chambers on April 12 but it was returned “to tie up loose ends”.
The video, which was time -stamped Feb 21, was screened to journalists on March 21 at Carcosa Seri Negara.
Three men subsequently came forward to identify themselves as “Datuk T” – former Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik, businessman Datuk Eskay Abdullah and former Perkasa treasurer Datuk Shuaib Lazim.
On March 22, Anwar lodged a police report, saying that he was not the man in the video.
Meanwhile, Bernama quoted DCP Acryl as saying that police did not have the power to arrest the individuals involved in the sex act.
“There is no legal provision for the police to arrest and take statements from them. We have to refer the matter to the A-G’s Chambers for any review.” he said.
In a related development, the trio has indicated that they would take full responsibility for the screening.
They said they were merely showing “documented evidence” to the media in the interest of the public.
“We were discreet when showing the evidence,” Eskay said, adding that the press had the responsibility to expose the wrongdoings of public figures.
“Even if the police want to take action against us, we will give them our fullest co-operation,” he said.
Several pressure groups, especially Pakatan Rakyat supporters, had called on the police to not give in to political pressure.
However, Gagasan Anti Penyelewengan Selangor chairman Hamizun Khairuddin said police should protect whistleblowers and not persecute them.
He said it was strange that the police talked about taking action against the Datuk T trio but kept mum on action against the man in the video.
Wira Perkasa chief Irwan Fahmi slammed politically-motivated individuals who were out to put the police on the defensive.
“In the past, the police had taken action against an air steward in a sex video.
“Naturally, people expect action to be taken against the man in the latest video scandal,” he said.
