Kota Kinabalu: Ten policemen and a retired colleague were remanded for a week, Tuesday, to facilitate investigations into bribes involving thousands of ringgit for protecting drug offenders.Magistrate Stephanie Sherron Abbie granted the remand order applied for by Investigating Officer Faliq Basiruddin from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The remand ordered would expire on Oct. 14.According to Faliq, the policemen comprising various ranks from inspector to corporal, lance corporal and constable, including the retiree, were arrested between 2pm and 8pm on Monday.
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The suspects aged between 26 and 55 were pick-up from several districts such as Kota Belud, Beluran, here and Sibu, Sarawak.Faliq added that a team in Sibu also helped with the arrests. They were remanded to assist investigations under Section 17(a) of the MACC for accepting bribes.
He said the MACC is also tracing witnesses who can assist in the investigations.Faliq revealed that the suspects received the bribes either in cash or via bank transactions.
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"The money transactions from 2014 and this year involve up to thousands of ringgit and the MACC is still calculating the amount received by each of them."We need to wait for clarification from banks as well as get bank statements from each suspect.
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"This case is an ongoing investigation and if we cannot finish it within a week, we will apply for a second remand on Sunday. The 11 will be brought to the central lock-up here," he said.According to him all suspects allegedly received monthly, weekly and daily remuneration while serving as a narcotics policeman from those who committed offences under the Dangerous Drug Act 1952. He said investigations were also made to identify whether the persons being protected by the suspects were drug addicts or traffickers. - Cynthia D Baga
