16 POLICEMEN IN THE DOCK OVER CORRUPTION
Among them is Sabah Commercial Crime Investigations Department deputy chief
SIXTEEN members of the police force were taken to court yesterday to face graft charges following a nationwide blitz by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
A deputy superintendent and deputy chief of a state Commercial Crime Investigation Department were among the 16 charged.
They were accused of soliciting money as inducement to not act against wrongdoers involved in cheating cases, traffic offences and illegal immigrants, among others.
All of them — eight here, four (Sabah), three (Selangor) and one (Penang) — claimed trial.
The eight policemen charged here were Assistant Superintendent Mohamad Zafrul Zulkifli; three corporals Abd Rahim Yusak, Azuan Khalid and Zulazri Idris; three lance corporals Mohamad Hasirun Abu Hassan, Mohd Saffuan Mat Salleh and Muhammad Huzzaini Esman; and, a constable Mohd Hafis Hafizi Azhari.
In Sabah, those charged were Deputy Superintendent Mohd Mahyuddin Abdullah, who is also deputy chief of the state Commercial Crime Investigation Department, Inspector Mohd Fa’iz Mohd Yusof, two corporals Elly Boniface Siew@Siu Tugok and Liza Ambau.
In Selangor, those charged were from the Subang Jaya Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division, Sergeant Azahar Adon, 56, Corporal Rosli Bali, 55, and retired Corporal Yusof Ali, 61.
In Penang, Inspector Muhammad Hafizuddin Hasan, 34, was charged.
Earlier this week, three policemen were among eight people held in connection with protecting illegal immigrants working in Sarawak and Johor.
MACC Investigations Department director Datuk Simi Abd Ghani said rogue enforcement officers were colluding with at least five syndicates involved in bringing illegal workers into the country.
He said the officers had a hand in protecting the foreigners as they were paid by the syndicates to do so.
The eight people held in Sibu, Miri and Kuching in Sarawak and Kluang in Johor, were nabbed in a swoop that followed months of surveillance by the MACC on two syndicates that paid the rogue officers.