Cops harass suspects for money

MALAYSIA - A royal Malaysian Police official at the Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur, headquarters said that five police personnel in Johor are being investigated for harassing crime suspects and being involved in a crime.

In the latest case several days ago, an inspector from the narcotics unit and three detectives were following up on a suspect who was involved in drug-related activity in Johor Baru.

The suspect lodged a police report alleging that the four officers had been harassing and extorting money from him, reported Malaysia's The Star.

Sources said investigations showed that the officers conducted checks on the suspect without filing the necessary reports or documents after they did not find any drugs on him.

The four were remanded.

Extortion

In another case, a police inspector was picked up by policemen from the Kluang district police headquarters in connection with an extortion case recently.

A teacher had claimed that her husband was car-jacked at knife-point in Kluang town.

Within hours, the victim received a call demanding several thousand ringgit for the safe return of his vehicle.

Police tracked down four suspects and discovered the inspector's involvement after tracing the call to his mobile phone number.

A Bukit Aman official said that all the policemen, who are in their 30s and 40s, had been released on bail after preliminary investigations.

"The department's disciplinary unit will study both cases to ascertain the policemen's involvement or whether they are being victimised," the official said.

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