Five policemen in Bukit Mertajam have been detained for allegedly extorting a motorist.
The incident occurred around 10.15pm on Thursday (Feb 1), when a 27-year-old factory worker was driving along Jalan Permatang Tinggi in Bukit Mertajam. He was ordered to stop by two police cars.
Three policemen then conducted a search on the complainant’s car and claimed to have found a packet containing a substance believed to be methamphetamine.
Although the complainant denied that the drug was his, the policemen insisted and warned him that the offence carries heavy penalties.
Following this, another police car and two more policemen arrived at the scene and demanded RM10,000 to ignore the offence, but eventually agreed to a sum of RM4,500.
After this, the complainant was ordered to go to a bank to withdraw the cash and the policemen took his identity card, driving license, and mobile phone as collateral.
The complainant then handed over RM4,500 cash to one of the cops near a church at Permatang Tinggi before filing a police report.
Penang police chief Comm Datuk Khaw Kok Chin confirmed that five policemen, aged between 24 and 48, from the Seberang Perai Tengah police headquarters have been arrested.
“Let this be a warning to other personnel that such conduct will not be tolerated. These five have been remanded for four days to assist with further investigations,” he said.
