On December 15, 2023, Muhammad Zaharif Affendi bin Muhd Zamrie, a 17-year-old Malaysian student, was killed when he was struck by a police officer's car in Ipoh, Perak. The incident occurred around noon, as Zaharif was riding his motorcycle from the National Secondary School (SMK) Jati to the mosque for Friday prayers.[2]
| Killing of Muhammad Zaharif Affendi | |
|---|---|
| Location | Jalan Taman Jati |
| Date | 15 December 2023 |
Attack type | Hit and run |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Victim | Muhammad Zaharif Affendi Muhd Zamrie |
| Motive | Under investigation |
| Accused | 1 |
| Charges | Murder[1] |
Event
editZaharif left National Secondary School (SMK) Jati around noon, and began heading towards his home in Chemor on his motorcycle to prepare for Friday prayers at the mosque.[2][3]
While on his motorcycle, Zaharif became involved with an altercation with a Kedah police officer due to the noise he was making.[4] The officer followed Zaharif for nearly a kilometer before his car hit the teenager from behind.[3][4] Zaharif was knocked off his motorcycle and dragged about five meters.[3][4] The officer left the scene shortly afterward, when he "realised the heavy presence of the public".[4] The officer did not sustain any injuries from the crash.[5]
Zaharif's sister, who worked as a nurse and arrived at the scene shortly after he was hit,[6] said that the officer "was not panicking at all".[4] She briefly interacted with her brother before he lost consciousness, and then performed CPR on him until an ambulance arrived.[6][3] Zaharif was pronounced dead at the scene.[3] The officer's wife approached Zaharif's family members at the scene, apologizing for the event and saying her husband was "short-tempered".[7]
Aftermath
editA post-mortem investigation at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital found that Zaharif died from chest and abdomen injuries sustained during the crash.[3][5] He was buried in Kampung Kepayang Luar Islamic Cemetery on the evening of December 15.[3]
Video and images of Zaharif's death went viral on social media.[5][6][8] Family members later requested that users delete video of the event.[9] Posters bearing Zaharif's likeness began to be posted around Ipoh on December 16, calling for justice for the student's death.[10]
Following Zaharif's death, his family demanded an investigation into the event, to determine whether the crash had been intentional.[4] Members of the family asked eye witnesses to come forward and file police reports on their experiences.[11]
The police officer involved in the event was arrested and put on a remand order until December 18.[4][6][5] On December 16, Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri announced the department would expedite their investigation into the event,[5] and assistant Superintendent Yahaya Hassan addressed the media, assuring a thorough investigation.[12] On December 17, the Attorney-General’s Chambers announced that the officer involved would be charged with murder under section 302 of the Penal Code.[13][14] The 44-year-old police officer was charged on December 18.[15]
A trial date of February 7, 2024 has been set.[10]
References
edit- ^ "DSP charged with murder of schoolboy". Astro Awani. 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ a b Zulkifli, Syamilah (2023-12-16). "Zaharif bersiap untuk solat Jumaat sebelum maut dilanggar - Abang". Sinar Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g Arif, Zahratulhayat Mat (2023-12-15). "Hit-and-run by cop: Sister performed CPR to try to revive Muhammad Zaharif Affendi, family demands justice | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g Arif, Zahratulhayat Mat (2023-12-17). "Family of teen killed in crash wants case to be investigated for murder". New Straits Times. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ a b c d e "Police expedite probe into fatal accident involving senior cop". Malay Mail. 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ a b c d "'Zaharif was heading to the mosque'". The Star. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "'He's short-tempered', says wife of senior cop who ran over a teenager". New Straits Times. 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ "Father of road crash victim Zaharif unable to eat since incident on Dec 15". Malay Mail. 2023-12-17. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Zaharif's family urges social media users to delete accident video". Sinar Daily. 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ a b "Deadly pursuit: Timeline of Zaharif Affendi murder case". New Straits Times. 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ Basyir, Mohamed (2023-12-16). "Zaharif's family pleads for witnesses in incident that caused his death". New Straits Times. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ me, Hello Its (2023-12-17). "POLICEMAN IN M'SIA RAMS TEEN WITH CAR CAUSING DEATH BEFORE RUNNING". Singapore Uncensored. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ "Police officer to be charged with death of Form Five boy". The Malaysian Insight. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Penal Code Section 302 (Malaysia)". BurgieLaw. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
- ^ "Senior cop in Malaysia charged with murder of schoolboy in hit-and-run accident". Ground News. Retrieved 2023-12-18.