4 COPS NABBED FOR BRIBERY
Men allegedly took cash from lorry operators, ketum juice sellers
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister and Infrastructure Development Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (third from left) aboard the new Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) carriage at the Tanjung Aru train station where the Sabah Railway Department’s office is located. PIC BY MALAI ROSMAH TUAH ARFA YUNUS KUALA LUMPUR news@nst.com.my
FOUR policemen were nabbed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday for allegedly receiving bribes to overlook illicit activities. MACC director of investigations Datuk Simi Abdul Ghani confirmed the arrests of two corporals, an inspector and a sergeant major for receiving monthly “protection fees” from lorry operators and ketum juice sellers.
In the first case, the first corporal, 57, and sergeant major, 53, were nabbed in Kulim, Kedah between 9am and 10am for abusing their positions.
“The offences committed by them (lorry operators) include not having insurance coverage, no road tax and other offences under the Road Transport Act 1957,” said the statement from MACC.
According to Simi, the two police officers were remanded from yesterday to facilitate the investigation.
The other corporal, 33, and inspector, 31, were nabbed in Raub, Pahang and Penang, respectively, between 9am and 1pm.
Sources said the men allegedly took between RM2,000 and RM3,500 from ketum juice sellers.
Consumption of ketum plant and its byproducts is said to have similar effects as taking drugs or alcohol.
“Ketum juice sellers can be penalised if they are found to have violated Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952 for possessing and selling ketum, which can be fined under Section 30(5) of the same Act up to RM10,000, or jailed up to four years, or both.
“Ketum juice sellers are also believed to be earning up to RM350 per day, which is why they were not hesitant to pay the bribes.”
All four police officers will be investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act.
They face up to 20 years in prison, or fines of not more than five times the amount of bribe, or RM10,000 (whichever is higher), if convicted.