I concur with N Surendran from Lawyers for Liberty regarding Article 7(2) of the Constitution, which stipulates that a person cannot be subjected to prosecution twice for the same offense, a provision that applies solely to criminal proceedings and not to internal disciplinary inquiries within the police force.
It is hard to accept that Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Razarudin Husain was unaware of the “double jeopardy” principle, as such a lack of understanding could indicate more widespread issues with legal proficiency among the police ranks.
It is advisable that IGP publicly clarify his statements regarding the application of double jeopardy in the context of the disciplinary proceedings involving the police officer captured on video assaulting a deaf e-hailing driver.
It is essential for the IGP to uphold the integrity and credibility of the police force. He must address this matter transparently, rather than hiding behind the “double jeopardy” argument to obfuscate the investigation into allegations of police misconduct.