Latheefa: Zero tolerance on abuse in custody

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner has vowed that all allegations of custodial abuse will be treated seriously with full cooperation given to investigating bodies following a report lodged against one of its officers by three police personnel.

Latheefa Koya said she had zero tolerance of custodial abuse of any kind.

“I am aware of the report lodged by the police personnel who claimed they were assaulted by a MACC officer.

“The officer has since lodged a report of his own claiming the allegations are false.

“MACC will cooperate fully with the ongoing police investigation into these reports,” she said in a statement yesterday.

Latheefa said MACC had put in a strict standard operating procedure governing the arrest and detention of suspects.

In the case of the police personnel who made the complaint, Latheefa said they were being investigated by MACC for alleged extortion from suspected drug abusers.

“The investigation is part of increased operations by Selangor MACC into alleged extortion activities involving police personnel,” she added.

Recently, three policemen alleged that a MACC officer hit them when they were at the Selangor MACC office in Shah Alam to give their statements.

The three personnel, aged 24, 25 and 26, from the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division claimed that while there, they were punched, slapped and kicked by the MACC officer when their statements were being recorded in a room on Dec 24 and 26.

They lodged a police report against the MACC officer on Dec 27.