The Malaysian Insight

THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has picked up the Melaka Tengah CID chief, six days after the graft-busters rounded up two district police chiefs and nine others in a probe into a protection racket run by police officers in Malacca.

The 49 year-old suspect with the rank of deputy superintendent was arrested at his office at 12.30pm and brought to MACC headquarters.

He is expected to be remanded in the Putrajaya Court tomorrow.

The man is the 12th suspect picked up by MACC over the past one week in its investigation into police protection for illegal gambling dens and massage parlours in Malacca.

Eight of the dozen suspects are policemen; they include an assistant commissioner of police, two inspectors, a police corporal and at least one deputy superintendent. 

The raiding team last week seized RM1.44 million from the suspects, including RM800,000 found stashed in the storeroom of a police corporal’s home, and RM79,000 from the Melaka Tengah police chief’s bungalow in the new police quarters in Kerubong.

Sources said corrupt members of the force had run a protection racket to collect between RM2,000 and RM10,000 from each illegal outlet. Those who did not pay would get “visits” from the authorities.

It is learnt that no fewer than 50 illegal outlets had paid the cops “protection money”.

Earlier today, MACC obtained a five-day remand extension for the two district police chiefs and seven others in custody.

The investigating team had asked for an extension of seven days but was challenged by the suspects’ lawyers.

Magistrate Nik Isfahanie Tasnim Wan Ab Rahman granted MACC a remand order for the nine suspects until May 27. – May 22, 2017.