BUKIT MERTAJAM, Jun 10 – A 38-year-old Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer was detained for allegedly demanding hush money from a police officer working in the state. Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) district police chief, ACP Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid said the officer attached to the MACC Northern Zone Intelligence Unit in Putrajaya was detained at a restaurant in Taman Machang Bubok, here at 10.20 last night.
“Based on investigation, the victim who is attached to the Gambling and Secret Society (D7) branch of the SPT District Police Headquarters had been contacted via the Whatsapp application by the MACC officer in March for a meeting,” Nik Ros Azhan said.
“The police officer, who knows the man, had replied that he could not meet him as he was in Putrajaya and since then, the suspect frequently contacted the victim but the police officer refused to meet as he knew the suspect would blackmail him,” she told this to reporters here.
He added that on June 5, the victim was informed by his friend that the MACC officer wanted to meet him and fixed a monthly payment of RM3,000 for purportedly looking after the police officer attached to the SPT district police headquarters. He said after the victim met with the MACC officer at a restaurant and handed over the RM3,000 in cash, a team of policemen detained the suspect and seized the money.
In addition, he said, police also seized his identification card, his MACC Enforcement identification bearing his name, a Volkswagen Polo sedan, a blue sling bag and an Iphone from the MACC officer who was being remanded for three days beginning today.
Meanwhile, the MACC said in a statement that it would not compromise with any of its officers who had committed any crime and would cooperate with the police and welcomed the stern action taken in detaining the suspect. The case is being investigated under Section 384 of the Penal Code for extortion. The suspect, wearing orange lock-up attire, hid his face when he arrived at the Bukit Mertajam magistrate’s court at about 9.20am Friday. — PN
