A SENIOR citizen allegedly assaulted by city council enforcement officers during an operation to capture stray dogs is now under probe for preventing officials from doing their job.

Petaling Jaya district police chief Fakhrudin Hamid said the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has filed a report stating the man allowed the stray dogs onto his premises and closed the gates.

He said the enforcement officers were out to catch strays in Taman Kanagapuram following complaints from the public.

“As a result of this, the officers were unable to carry out their official duties to catch the strays. In the ensuing scuffle, the man was injured after he was accidentally hit by a rod used to catch stray dogs,” he said in a statement today.

Fakhrudin said police were investigating the case under sections 323 and 186 of the penal code for obstructing officers from carrying out their duties and causing injury to them.

He said the senior citizen had also lodged a report and that the police were also investigating his complaints. 

Videos from surveillance cameras and a bystander who witnessed the scuffle showed enforcers hitting the man with a catchpole when he tried to stop them from entering his premises where several dogs were seen.

Another video showed the senior citizen claiming he was punched in the neck and cut on his wrist.

Following a public outcry, the MBPJ said it would investigate the officer who allegedly abused the elderly person.

“We want to stress that there will be no compromise in this case or (attempts) to protect any council staff if it is true and proven that they have committed the offence. 

“We have also set up an internal investigating committee to probe into the incident, and it is ongoing,” it stated. – March 25, 2023.