In a shocking turn of events, two police officers from the Johor Bahru (JB) checkpoint have been arrested for allegedly attempting to extort S$570 from a man passing through the checkpoint. The incident, which occurred on April 2, came to light during a press conference held by Johor politician Heng Zhi Li on April 5.
The victim, a 29-year-old man named Lim, was returning to JB from Singapore when he was approached by two men claiming to be police officers. They took his phone and passport and led him to a room, where they accused him of unspecified offenses and threatened to take him to the lockup and court the next day. Fearing for his job, Lim asked what offense he had committed, but the officers refused to tell him.
The officers then allegedly demanded RM2,000 (S$570) from Lim, who told them he did not have that much cash on him. One of the officers then took him to an ATM at a nearby petrol station, but Lim was unable to withdraw money due to technical issues. The officer took him to another ATM, but Lim was still unable to withdraw money. The officer then took him to a bank, where Lim was able to withdraw RM1,000 (S$284).
Lim then pretended to have an asthma attack, lying down on the road. A couple who tried to help him were waved away by the officer, but they persisted, and the officer eventually left the scene, leaving Lim’s passport and phone behind. The couple helped Lim call a Grab ride, and he made a police report the next day.
Following the report, Johor police chief M. Kumar released a statement saying that two police officers, aged 32 and 33, had been arrested at around 1.50 pm on April 5. They will be remanded for three days, suspected of extorting money from a person going through immigration clearance. The Johor police are committed to fighting integrity problems and criminal misconduct among officers, and strict action will be taken against any officer or personnel found to have committed a crime.
The incident has sparked outrage and concern among the public, with many calling for a thorough investigation and strict action against the officers involved. The police have assured the public that they are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, and that any officer or personnel found to have committed a crime will be dealt with severely.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the law and maintaining the trust of the public. The actions of these two officers have not only tarnished the reputation of the police force but also put the safety and security of the public at risk. It is crucial that the police take swift and decisive action to address this issue and ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.
In conclusion, the arrest of the two JB checkpoint police officers for allegedly trying to extort money from a man passing through the checkpoint is a shocking and disturbing incident that has sparked outrage and concern among the public. The police have assured the public that they are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, and that strict action will be taken against any officer or personnel found to have committed a crime. It is crucial that the police take swift and decisive action to address this issue and ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.