Journalist Investigating Malaysian Football Forgery Scandal Attacked in Kuala Lumpur
An independent Malaysian journalist, Haresh Deol, who has been actively investigating a high-profile football document-forgery scandal, was brutally assaulted in Kuala Lumpur. This incident has ignited renewed alarm regarding media intimidation and the safety of journalists within the country.
The Assault in Bangsar
Deol, co-founder and editor of the independent news site Twentytwo13, was attacked on Tuesday afternoon in Bangsar, a bustling commercial district located south of central Kuala Lumpur. The assault occurred shortly after he had concluded a meeting. As he made his way to his car, two men reportedly confronted him, while a third individual pushed him to the ground and filmed the entire beating on a mobile phone, according to an account published by Twentytwo13. Strikingly, the assailants fled the scene without taking any of Deol's personal belongings, a detail that strongly suggests the attack was a deliberate act of intimidation rather than a robbery.
Police Investigation Underway
Following the assault, Deol sustained cuts to his elbows and bruising to his face. He subsequently filed an official police report and also shared a brief personal account of the incident on social media. Brickfields district police chief Hoo Chang Hook confirmed that law enforcement received the report at 4 pm and are now actively working to identify the suspects involved. Investigators plan to seek a court order to support their ongoing inquiries into this concerning matter.