KUALA LUMPUR – Three traffic police officers have been interdicted from performing their duties after allegedly soliciting a RM100 bribe from a pair of British YouTubers who were taking a road trip through Malaysia.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, who confirmed this during a press conference in Ulu Kinta, Perak today, also said that the investigation paper into the incident had been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
“We have sent the investigation paper (on the case) to the attorney-general for consideration. It is up to the attorney-general on whether or not to prosecute (the trio),” he said.
When asked about the current status of the three officers, Razarudin said that they had been interdicted from their duties.
Interdiction and suspension from work are treated differently under the Public Services Commission of Malaysia’s disciplinary guidelines.
Public officers who are interdicted and are then acquitted upon completion of criminal proceedings or disciplinary action are entitled to emoluments not paid to them during the interdiction period.
However, if such officers are instead suspended, they are not entitled to receive any emolument during the period of suspension, unless disciplinary proceedings against them result in a punishment other than dismissal of the officer.
On January 30, the three police officers from Perak police’s traffic investigation and enforcement department, aged between 37 to 42-years-old, were remanded for three days to assist in investigations into the incident that occurred at Jalan Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands.
The next day, it was reported that magistrate Siti Nora Sharif dismissed an application by the Perak police department for the trio’s remand to be extended.
Their lawyers told the media outside the court then that the magistrate had rejected the extension because the victims had not come forward, in addition to other technical issues.
However, the road-tripping couple, known as Chris and Marianne, had posted on their X account that the Royal Malaysia Police had contacted them to investigate the incident, noting that the police force had apologised to them.
Police were earlier 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 shared widely on social media.
The video 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 video also shows the couple wondering if they had really committed an offence.
The case was investigated under Section 384 of the Penal Code for extortion, Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 for accepting graft and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1988 on the misuse of network facilities. – February 14, 2024