KUALA LUMPUR – The British couple who settled their alleged speeding offence on the spot with a RM100 payment while on a road trip through Malaysia, appear to now be in Thailand.
From their Polarsteps live journey tracker, they appear to be south of Bangkok, by the coast on the east side of the Kra Isthmus that connects Peninsular Malaysia to the continent.
The live tracker is also accessible through the couple’s website.
Police said they are looking for the couple to help in the investigation into a policeman who settled their alleged speeding offence on the spot with a RM100 payment – an incident captured on video and has since gone viral.
Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said earlier today the couple, who had been on a road trip through Malaysia in a camper van, are now in a neighbouring country.
Bukit Aman police headquarters is taking the lead in the investigation, and are working to identify the traffic policemen involved, as well as the location, time and date of the incident, Yusri was reported saying at a Lions Club event in Ipoh today.
The incident, captured on video as part of the couple’s video blog of their international road trip, shows the policeman offering the couple the choice of paying RM300 for a speeding ticket at the nearest police station, or to pay RM100 on the spot.
The couple gives him RM100, but the video does not show the policeman giving them a receipt or any form of acknowledgement of receiving the payment.
The video also shows the couple wondering if they had really committed an offence.
“But were we actually speeding? I guess that’s one thing we’ll never know,” says the husband, identified as Chris in the couple’s social media and website details.
Under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, it is an offence to give as well as to receive a bribe. The penalty for both the solicitor and giver is imprisonment for not more than 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Yesterday, Bukit Aman’s Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) director Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri said police are investigating the matter after seeing the couple’s video on YouTube.
Azman said police will not tolerate such misconduct by their personnel.
Many social media users have commented on the video, expressing shame at the policeman’s actions. Some are re-sharing the clip and tagging the police’s handle on X (formerly Twitter).
Azman has urged those with information on the incident to send it to JSPT by calling 03-22663356 or by email to [email protected]. – January 29, 2024