POLICE have recorded the statement of a former minister allegedly involved in a sexual assault case, said state police chief Noor Mushar Mohd.

He said the suspect, who is a Perlis MP, gave his statement to Bukit Aman this morning.

“Our investigation is almost complete. Bukit Aman interviewed him this morning.

“Once everything is done, we will submit the investigation paper to the deputy public prosecutor for further action.”

He said the incident took place in the suspect’s car, and that the suspect held the victim’s hand before trying to touch her shoulder.

“Both were in the car alone. She ran out crying after the suspect tried to touch her. The teacher who called the girl to meet the man saw her crying.”

On the suspect’s claim that he has known the girl and her family for some time, Noor Mushar said the victim’s family are not close to the suspect.

“They’ve met before, but I don’t think they are very close, as claimed by the suspect.

“The victim is a good girl, and the family really take care of their children.”

He said nine individuals have had their statements recorded in relation to the case.

“We have called up nine individuals, from the girl’s side and the suspect’s side.

“We are not closing the case. Since the day the report was lodged until today, we have not closed the case.”

The report said the girl got into the suspect’s car after she was told by a man, believed to be her teacher, that the suspect wanted to see her.

The victim, a secondary school student from Arau, had been performing with a group, Kumpulan Aukustika on 7@DSSK Busker, at Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium.

“She was performing with the group when a man, whom she referred to as ‘Cikgu Azhar Hassan’, told her that the suspect wanted to see her in his car,” said a source.

“The girl agreed. Both the suspect and victim spent 20 minutes in the car, where the suspect offered her a chance to perform in Kuala Lumpur. She was offered RM4,000.”

It was reported that the victim ran out of the car after the suspect touched her shoulder without her consent.

Harian Metro yesterday reported the lawmaker in question as saying the matter was just a misunderstanding.

He said he had not meant to touch the girl to the point that her family were compelled to lodge a report, and denied that the incident took place in a secluded spot.

“I’ve known them (the girl and her family) for a while – almost two years – and the alleged ‘harassment’ did not happen in a secluded area, but in a public place.

“I do not want to prolong this matter as I pity the student, who has a bright future.

“They are even saying I paid a bribe, but I did not know anything about the police report being retracted until the family members themselves told me,” he was quoted as saying. – October 30, 2018.