Police arrest 37-year-old suspect in Cheras for assault on journalist Haresh Deol in Bangsar incident
PETALING JAYA: Authorities have apprehended a suspect linked to the assault of veteran journalist Haresh Deol that occurred in Bangsar yesterday afternoon, marking a swift development in the case that has drawn concern from media organizations nationwide.
Brickfields district police chief ACP Hoo Chang Hook confirmed that a 37-year-old male suspect was taken into custody during an early morning operation at a residential flat in Cheras at 2am today.
The suspect has been brought before the Kuala Lumpur magistrates’ court, which approved a police application for a three-day remand order. The individual will remain in custody until 28 November while investigations continue.
The incident involving Haresh, who co-founded the Twentytwo13 news platform, took place in Bangsar yesterday afternoon when he was reportedly attacked by two individuals. According to earlier reports, the assault occurred around 4pm, when Haresh subsequently filed a police report.
READ ALSO: Sports journalist Haresh Deol assaulted by two in Bangsar
Authorities are pursuing the case under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which addresses the offense of voluntarily causing hurt. The investigation remains active as police work to identify and locate additional suspects who may have been involved in the attack.
Haresh Deol has spent a quarter-century working in journalism, with a particular focus on governance and accountability reporting. Alongside his wife Pearl Lee, he established Twentytwo13, an independent news website that has become known for in-depth investigative journalism.
The journalist sustained injuries affecting his face, hands, and body during the assault. His recent professional work has concentrated on investigative reporting within Malaysian sports, notably examining governance concerns and the controversy surrounding the national football team’s naturalisation practices.
While police have successfully arrested one suspect, the investigation continues as authorities work to build a comprehensive case. The swift arrest—occurring within hours of the initial report—demonstrates the priority law enforcement has placed on resolving this case involving violence against a media professional.
The Brickfields district police have not disclosed whether the arrested individual is believed to be one of the two assailants or if he played a different role in the incident. Additional details about the suspect’s identity and potential motives have not been released as the investigation progresses.
The attack has generated significant attention within Malaysia’s journalism community, with the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM) having issued a strong condemnation of the assault yesterday. The union expressed deep concern about what it described as a worrying pattern of violence targeting media practitioners.
READ ALSO: NUJ condemns attack on senior journalist in Bangsar incident
