Cops land behind bars after convict walks free for 'RM2.5k'

Police have arrested an inspector from Bukit Aman as well as three rank-and-file personnel over the unlawful release of a Pakistani national convicted for an immigration offence two weeks ago.

The rank-and-file personnel are from the Klang Utara district police headquarters.

The four have since been remanded to facilitate investigations for alleged extortion and obstructing the legal apprehension of a person.

According to Selangor CID chief Fadzil Ahmat, the three rank-and-file personnel were detained on July 11 after it was discovered they had released the underaged Pakistani national, who they were supposed to escort to a juvenile detention centre in Kajang.

"The three rank-and-file personnel were tasked with escorting the Pakistani national, who had been sentenced to three months in jail for an immigration offence.

"When we learned he had been released instead of serving his sentence, Selangor CID arrested the three to facilitate investigations,” he told Malaysiakini.

Fadzil said the suspects had claimed that the release was due to miscommunication.

“However, we learned (from the investigation) that RM2,500 cash was exchanged between the convict and the personnel,” he added.

Upon questioning the trio, Fadzil said investigators also learned about the inspector's role in the matter.

The suspects, he added, revealed that the cash was passed to the inspector, who told the three personnel he would return it to the Pakistani national.

Fadzil said investigations established that the sum was returned to the convict, who has since been re-arrested.

After the inspector was detained, investigators discovered that he had produced a fake letter to the Immigration Department to secure the foreigner's release.

Fadzil said the case is being investigated under Section 224 and 225A of the Penal Code.

He also did not rule out more arrests as investigators are checking if others are involved in the matter. - Mkin