20 cops transferred over Macau Scam and online gambling

 

More than 3,000 Macau Scam cases involved women who were put in fear of being arrested. (Bloomberg pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Senior police officers are among 20 members of the police who have faced action by the force on suspicion of being connected with people who have been detained during investigations into online gambling syndicates and the Macau Scam.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said that transfers of personnel and officers involved was the first step by the police force in taking action against those who conspired with criminals.

He also did not rule out the possibility that there will be more police officers who will be subject to action.

“Action has been taken. The first step is to transfer them out of the sensitive place. The second step is, if there is other evidence then we will take further action.

“If I am not mistaken there are 20 personnel. There will be more transfers. There is nothing sensational about this. If that happens, we will investigate. When there are facts, we take action,” he said today.

Abdul Hamid was previously reported to have said that all officers and personnel assigned to the Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division, Criminal Investigation Department and Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department will be screened by a special committee in Bukit Aman, to ensure that only those with high integrity are placed in the “hot” divisions.

Eight members of the police force, including senior officers, were detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission last month to assist in the investigation into money laundering activities from online gambling activities and the Macau Scam.

There were 5,218 Macau Scam cases reported between January and October, involving estimated losses of over RM256 million.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Zainuddin Yaacob said 2,676 cases had been solved by police and 1,420 cases were taken to court.

He said more than 3,000 cases involved women victims, most of them over 51 years of age. The victims were placed under a lot of stress and put in fear of being arrested and locked up, and threatened with having their property seized.

Zainuddin spoke in Melaka, where Abdul Majid Mohd Ali assumed duties as the new chief police officer, replacing Mat Kasim Karim who has been appointed to Bukit Aman’s management department. - FMT