Witnesses in Malacca protection racket are 'missing', says MACC chief
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INVESTIGATIONS into Malacca’s biggest protection racket involving the police and underworld could be scuttled after it was revealed today that several key witnesses have gone missing.
MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad said the witnesses have gone into hiding, or have even left the country.
“Investigations are still going on but there are a few witnesses that have not been located because they already ran away and are no longer in the country,” he said after officiating the Sahabat SPRM (Friends of MACC) programme at Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur this evening.
Dzulkifli suspects that these witnesses may have gone into hiding after MACC moved in on the individuals believed to be involved in the syndicate that provides protection to illegal massage parlours and gambling dens in Malacca.
Last month the anti-graft body arrested Melaka Tengah and Jasin district police chiefs for their alleged involvement in the protection racket.
Several other senior officers from the district and state police headquarters were also nabbed in the operation. MACC also seized a large amount of cash in several bank accounts belonging to the suspects.
Also detained was a civilian named “Gopi” whom whistleblower site Sarawak Report alleged had direct phone contact with Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar. Khalid admitted that he knew Gopi and that the suspect had also visited his home.
Commenting on that, Dzulkifli said that they were merely claims from online reports.
He said MACC will conduct their own investigations and did not dismiss the possibility that Khalid will be questioned.
“It depends on our investigation. Whether there is a need (to call him or not) we will see,” Dzulkifli said.
Following major MACC operations in Malacca, Khalid instructed a major reshuffle at the Malacca police contingent.
The police officers who were arrested and later released on bail were immediately transferred to the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman while new officers were sent to replace them in Malacca. – June 17, 2017.