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Tuesday July 13, 2010
Senior cops and policewomen picked up in raids

By STEVEN DANIEL
stevend@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: More than 10 police officers in three states have been nabbed in recent raids to weed out bad hats from the force. Eight officers – including two policewomen – were caught in Johor, two in Penang and a high-ranking officer in Perak. It is learnt they are being investigated for suspected drug abuse, and may also face disciplinary action for frequenting entertainment outlets.

In the latest raid conducted at about 4.40am on June 20, a narcotics team from Bukit Aman arrested an Assistant Superintendant and two others – an inspector and a constable – at an entertainment outlet in Bandar Baru Permas Jaya in Johor. Sources said the officers tested positive for amphetamine-type stimulants. In the raid, police picked up 71 other persons and seized almost 2,165 Ecstasy pills with a street value of RM86,000.

The sources, however, said initial investigations showed no link be_tween the nabbed officers and the pills. In two earlier raids, two Inspectors in Penang and a senior officer in Ipoh were detained in joint operations involving the Bukit Aman narcotics teams, the state police disciplinary task force and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. Narcotics crime investigation department deputy director Deputy Comm Datuk Othman Harun, confirmed the arrests of the three personnel in Johor and the other three in Penang and Ipoh.

He said the six - aged between 30 and 56 - had been released on police bail, pending results from the chemistry laboratory. DCP Othman added that the urine test results were expected in two weeks, and those involved may be charged in court for drug abuse. “The arrests and action are part of ongoing operations nationwide to cultivate a good and clean image of the police force,” he told The Star.

Meanwhile, in another case in Johor, at least five officers - the most senior being a deputy superintendant - were nabbed at an entertainment outlet in Sri Aman, Johor Baru. Two of them were policewomen. Urine tests taken from them, however, turned out negative. DCP Othman said police officers caught at entertainment outlets without any proper explanation are liable to disciplinary action for violating directives set by the Inspector-General of Police. DCP Othman said even off-duty officers were not allowed to patronise pubs, dance clubs and entertainment outlets without approval.