IPOH: Police have opened an investigation into a social media influencer who was allegedly beaten and injured by police while in custody.
Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the case will be investigated under Section 324 of the Penal Code based on a police report filed by the influencer on Jan 9.
Police also traced social media posts and videos which purportedly showed the influencer accusing the police of protecting illegal gambling dens. It was alleged in the videos that those who provide information exposing these crimes are beaten and brought to court.
He also confirmed the arrest of the influencer — known as M Vikram Naidu — from the Perak contingent police headquarters on Jan 9 following a report made by a woman who claimed to have been threatened by six men demanding protection money to avoid trouble.
He said an investigation was then initiated, leading to Vikram being charged under Section 385 of the Penal Code at the Ipoh Magistrate's Court on Jan 15, despite his pleading not guilty to the charges.
"While in custody on Jan 9, the influencer made a report alleging that he was beaten and injured by the police. An investigation has been opened to probe the influencer's claims.
"The influencer has also been taken to the hospital for examination of his injuries," he said in a statement today.
Yusri advised the public not to believe accusations against the police easily, and to report criminal activities through appropriate channels for action to be taken.
A Tamil language video shared on TikTok with a caption written in Malay alleged the police released the perpetrators of illegal gambling activities while arresting whistleblowers.
"They released the perpetrators of illegal gambling activities! But arrest the whistleblowers instead! This is a case of police misconduct in Ipoh," the video alleged.
