SHAH ALAM - Individuals can be charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code if they cause someone's death through a fatal attack, as indicated by the forensic report.
Criminologist Shahul Hamid Abd Rahim said this aligned with existing legal provisions to allow perpetrators to be fairly judged, as well as to raise public awareness of crime when taking action on their own.
"In reality, ordinary people do not have the right to punish individuals who commit wrongdoing.
"Anyone who apprehends an individual for committing any crime must immediately hand over the perpetrator to the authorities and lodge a police report," he told Sinar.
On Tuesday, it was reported that a man was not only dragged out of his car by a group of individuals after an accident but his hands were also tied up and he was beaten up to death.
The tragic incident occurred after the 42-year-old victim who drove a Proton Saga car was involved in an accident with a food delivery driver.
The victim was subsequently chased by the public to Taman Pelangi Semenyih 2 before his car veered off and crashed into the fence at a residential area.
Shahul said the action of the group who had beaten up the victim was inappropriate, cruel and exceeded the limits of humanity.
He added that people should remember that the law was not in their hands and that only the courts can determine it.
"For those who wanted to help others, please bring the matter to the police station instead of taking matters into their own hands, which can lead to injury and death, turning an accident into a murder case.
"Do not act out of anger as it may be inconvenient for numerous parties. Actions taken without careful consideration and without weighing the consequences are what led to such incidents," he said.