KUALA LUMPUR: The management and staff of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) condemned the attack on their Chief executive officer Melissa Ong by a man impersonating a Bernama reporter last Friday.
"We would like to thank all those who have come forward and facilitated Ong directly or indirectly in the course of the incident and during the subsequent medical and legal processes. We also would like to express our gratitude to generous well-wishers of sympathy and concerns over the incident involving Ong.
"Ong is currently undergoing recovery process and wishes her privacy to be respected during this difficult period," read a statement issued by ASLI.
"We would like to stress that we uphold zero-tolerance policy on any form of violence, especially against women."
The incident took place at the media registration counter at the Russian Trade and Investment Forum at a hotel here when Ong asked the man for his media credentials.
The man later used profanities and proceeded to take her photo with his mobile phone without her permission.
When he was asked to stop, he punched Ong in the face, fracturing her nose.
The perpetrator was later apprehended by hotel security and handed over to the police.
A police report was made over the incident and the accused has now been charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Ong.
The accused pleaded guilty to the charge under section 325 of the Penal Code [Act 574] which carries a maximum seven (7) years imprisonment and shall also be liable to a fine upon conviction as read in the court and was granted bail of RM15,000.
The Court has fixed November 18 for sentencing.
