KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Malaysia Checkpoints and Border Agency (MCBA) director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain arrived at the Sepang Magistrate’s Court this morning to face two charges of assault linked to an altercation with two Special Branch officers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Security was tight across the court grounds, with an augmented contingent of police and Rela personnel restricting compound vehicle access strictly to authorised court staff and law enforcement officers, NST reported.
Dressed in a dark suit, the 54-year-old border agency chief appeared calm and composed upon his arrival. He made a stop at the court cafeteria for breakfast ahead of the proceedings, warmly extending an invitation to waiting press photographers and reporters to join him.
Lending a show of solidarity at the court complex was Port Klang MCBA commander Datuk Nik Ezanee Mohd Faisal.
Shuhaily is set to face two counts of voluntarily causing hurt under Section 323 of the Penal Code for allegedly striking Lance Corporals Mohammad Faiz Muhamad Saman, 40, and Muhammad Ekmal Sofwan Driman.
If convicted, the offence is punishable by a prison term of up to one year, a maximum fine of RM2,000, or both. Criminal defence lawyer Kitson Foong is appearing for Shuhaily.
The charges stem from a high-profile confrontation at KLIA Terminal 1 on Sept 28, which thrust the agency into the spotlight after mobile footage went viral online. The clip appeared to capture a senior official matching Shuhaily’s likeness berating two men at the terminal, with one of the officers seemingly grabbed forcefully by the ears.
Following the viral uproar, Shuhaily publicly said on Oct 1 that he was prepared to bear full responsibility and accept whatever determination the government reached regarding the episode.
The case progressed to court following an intensive review between investigators and the prosecution. Police initially recorded statements from 25 witnesses before submitting the investigation papers to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC).
Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar returned the dossier on Oct 8 for supplementary work, leading Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to confirm on Oct 17 that prosecutors had demanded further clarification before framing charges.
The legal fallout widened on Oct 12 when Faiz lodged a follow-up police report through his lawyers, Kamal Hisham Ja’afar and Muhammad Nor Tamrin. The report claimed new evidence, alleging that his smartphone was confiscated while he attempted to photograph the airport dispute.
The two Special Branch personnel, deployed as travel control officers at the international gateway, have strenuously rejected suggestions that they were touting or facilitating “counter setting” syndicates to bypass immigration controls.