31 cops await punishment over alleged Macau scam, gambling involvement

 

Thirty-one Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) personnel who have been identified colluding with the Macau scam syndicate and online gambling activities will face severe punishment soon.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said the results of the investigations had been submitted to the Police Force Commission (SPP) for further action.

He said they were previously suspected of being involved in the Macau scam syndicate, orchestrated by Zaidi Kanapiah, more well-known as Addy Kanna, and Goh Leong Yeong, or Alvin Goh.

“The Department of Integrity and Standard Compliance has already completed the investigations and submitted the paper to the SPP, chaired by Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin.

“This is because we view the offence as very serious, in the interest of the people. Hence, as the inspector-general of police I have taken it to the top to be tried as fairly as possible,” he said.

He said this at a media conference on the PDRM Orang Asli Constable Basic Course Series 1/2020 closing ceremony at the Main Shooting Range, General Operations Force (GOF) Northern Brigade, Hulu Kinta today.

He said the officers and personnel involved faced the sack, demotion and salary deductions, those being among the punishments that SPP could impose on them.

Prior to this, the media reported that Addy Kanna and Goh were detained by the MACC after they were found conducting Macau scam and online gambling activities targeting victims in China and working with cheating cartels abroad.

The MACC also detained and investigated several popular celebrities, police officers and personnel who protected the syndicate.

In another development, Abdul Hamid said that the PDRM had submitted an application to the Public Service Department (PSD) to ease conditions for the recruitment of Orang Asli into the Senoi Praaq unit, including in terms of physical qualifications.

He said the police would also negotiate with PSD to secure flexibility for applications into the Senoi Praaq unit to use the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) compared with only using the Lower Secondary Assessment (PMR) prior to this.

“We receive more applications from those with the SPM qualification although PMR certificate can be used to apply for the existing Senoi Praaq service scheme.

“Many from among the Orang Asli community are very keen to join PDRM but there are constraints in the conditions of approval and qualification,” he said.

“Currently, we are short of personnel in the GOF Third Battalion in Bidor and the 18th Battalion in Pengkalan Hulu,” he said.

Earlier today, 76 trainees comprising various Orang Asli tribes in the Peninsula succeeded in completing the six-month PDRM Orang Asli Constable Basic Course.

- Bernama