Cops in alleged extortion case ‘still on duty’

KUALA LUMPUR: Eight policemen suspected of extorting money from foreigners are still performing their duties as usual at the Ampang district police headquarters, pending thorough investigations.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim yesterday said the eight personnel attached to the district’s traffic division had not been reassigned or suspended as investigations by Bukit Aman’s Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS) were ongoing.

“Until there is enough evidence of wrongdoing or extortion, the eight can continue to work. However, if they are charged and proven guilty in court, then we will take the necessary steps,” he said after a handing over of duties ceremony between internal Security and Public Order acting director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sabtu Osman and Datuk Amer Awal at Bukit Aman yesterday.

Amer is the new director replacing Sabtu, who officially retires on June 28.

Noor Rashid added that although the policemen were being investigated for alleged extortion, they would not be subjected to disciplinary action until JIPS found a need to do so.

The matter came to light on Tuesday after a team from JIPS raided the division and found RM18,000 hidden under one of their desks.

“We believe the money seized found under the policeman’s desk came from extorting foreigners in the district. However, the matter is under investigation and it is too early (to take disciplinary action).

“Rest assured that if there is concrete evidence, they will have to face the full brunt of the law,” he said, adding that the department’s investigations included, among others, efforts to see if others apart from the eight were involved in the alleged crime.

On an unrelated case concerning an open letter which accused the police of not following procedures in investigating a robbery case, Noor Rashid said that police would check and re-evaluate the procedures taken in the case.

“If the investigating officer did indeed breach the investigation SOP (standard operating procedure) and alter the recorded statement as claimed, we will take action against him under Section 201 of the Penal Code.”

The open letter in question was addressed to the department, and was posted on a social networking site on June 20. In the letter, the writer claimed that police had meddled with the case statement of an armed robbery which was committed by the writer’s friend.