MACC swoops in on 3 police officers, including inspector, on suspicion of bribery
NST
MELAKA: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has taken in three police officers, two assistant superintendents of police (ASP) and one inspector, on suspicion of receiving bribes.
The arrests were made in a simultaneous raid in at several illegal gambling centres and massage parlours in the state.
Sources said the three police officers, aged between 31 and 41, are attached to the Melaka Tengah district police headquarters and Jasin district police headquarters.
It is learnt that MACC also arrested two civilians during the raid, in which one of them acted as the middle person to help the three officers collect bribes from operators of massage parlours and the illegal gambling centres.
“Another civilian who was arrested was an operator of the illegal gambling centre, which has been monitored by MACC for the past few months,” the source said, adding that the bribe was to ensure that the operators could safely carry on with their illegal activities while receiving protection from the officers.
“All three were arrested at about 11am and MACC are still tracking several other police officers believed to be involved in the case,” the source said.
MACC was also said to be investigating the relationship between the two civilians and their involvement with the high ranking officers.
“This is because when there are police officers who refused to collude in their activity, they would be transferred (to other departments) immediately,” the source said.
MACC learnt that a district police chief in Melaka was previously transferred after refusing to be involved in the immoral act.
MACC deputy chief commissioner Datuk Azam Baki confirmed the arrests.
He also did not discount the fact that there would be more arrests in the near future.
The suspects will be remanded at the Putrajaya court tomorrow to assist in investigations under Section 16 (a)(B) and 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 and Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
Melaka police chief Datuk Jalil Abdul Hassan when contacted, confirmed the case.
He however refused to divulge the details, saying that it might interfere with MACC’s investigations.
“I won’t say that they were arrested, but they were called in for interrogation at the MACC office earlier this morning (Tuesday),” said Jalil.
