Lance Coperal Khairul Anwar Mansor, a photographer at Dang Wangi police district, reiterated during the trial of assemblymen Chang Lih Kang, Tan Kar Hing and others, that he did not know what the #KitaLawan assembly, held last year at Dataran Merdeka was all about. “I was assigned by my supervisor (Insp Kamal Akmal) to take pictures of a rally, around the water fountain in Dataran Merdeka.”
“There were between 50 to 100 people gathered there,” he told deputy public prosecutor Mohd Fadli Zamri.
When Fadli pressed Khairil what was the purpose of the assembly, he did not know. “I saw many people. There were some people giving speeches.”
“There were also some banners. I am not sure what was written on the banners,” he said when asked to describe them.
When Fadli asked the policeman to describe the rally, he said “at first it was peaceful, then there was a little scuffle”.
He added that besides policemen on duty, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers were also on the ground.
When crossed examined by lawyer Eric Paulsen, representing Chang, Tan, and three others, Chee Chu Sang, Yong Ming Chong and Gan Zhi Mou, on the presence of policemen and DBKL officers in the crowd of 50 to 100 people, Khairil said he was unsure.
He agreed when Paulsen questioned him on the possibility of policemen and DBKL officers being among the crowd but not in uniform.
He also told lawyer Gobind Singh, representing accused G. Tamilarason, that he took pictures of the scuffle and that DBKL officers were in the picture when chaos erupted.
The six were charged last year for obstructing DBKL officers from carrying out their duties after being arrested at the #KitaLawan assembly.
They were charged under Section 186 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34, which carries a jail term of not more than two years and a maximum fine of RM10,000 or both if convicted.
Chee was slapped with one more charge, under Section 353, of using criminal violence on a DBKL officer from carrying out his duties.
He can be jailed up to two years, fined or both.
The hearing continues on Tuesday before Magistrate Nur Aminahyul Mardiah Md Nor.