Police disco: NGO says cops unreliable to probe their own, wants IPCMC

 

A civil society group today questioned the police for not pressing criminal charges against its personnel who were caught partying in a police station in Bangi three months ago.

Eliminating Deaths And Abuse In Custody Together (Edict) said such a decision was frustrating, as if cops are treated better when they commit offences.

“Edict is puzzled as to how the police could simply say that there will be no criminal charges against personnel detained three months ago over drug abuse and the possession of ketum drink and pornographic material.

“This is very frustrating, and at the same time, raises concern on how crimes committed by cops are not charged under the Penal Code, as what civilians would be subjected to should they be caught doing such offences,” the group said in a statement today.

Edict was responding to a news report by Malaysiakini this morning, where Bukit Aman integrity director and the Selangor police chief were quoted as saying that the police personnel involved would be facing disciplinary action but would not face any charges in court.

It was reported that on July 20, a team from Bukit Aman raided the police station and arrested four police personnel, including a sub-inspector in charge of the station, and four women who were allegedly partying in the premises.

Previous stories on the case had stated that the incident happened in Kajang. This was because the Bangi police station in question is under the jurisdiction of the Kajang district police headquarters.

The team also seized a liquor bottle, five bottles of ketum, lighting and audio equipment as well as lewd photographs depicting one of the police officers with a woman who was among those detained.

The sub-inspector reportedly was also found positive for marijuana abuse during an initial urine test, but Bukit Aman said a second confirmation test done by the pathologist returned a negative result.

According to the NGO, the incident had further proven the need for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as what had been suggested by a Royal Commission of Inquiry in 2004.

“It is clear that the police are not reliable enough to investigate their own personnel. IPCMC needs to be set up as soon as possible, given that it would be the only independent commission with enough power to drag those who commit wrongdoings to court,” Edict said. - Mkini