IGP turns guns on his own integrity dept over ‘cover-ups’

 

Abdul Hamid Bador says that several former JIPS officers had allowed those who ‘passed favours to investigators’ to be let off scot-free, instead of being charged or transferred out.

PETALING JAYA: Outgoing inspector-general of police, Abdul Hamid Bador has launched an astonishing attack on the department’s disciplinary committee, alleging that it was guilty of cover-ups.

Hamid said that several former Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS) officers had allowed those who “passed favours to investigators” to be let off scot-free, instead of being charged or transferred out of their positions.

The department was set up to address issues of misconduct, including allegations of corruption in the force.

“The so-called investigations would often stumble upon a dead end, and when that happens, no action can be taken against their friends (who are being investigated),” he told The Straits Times.

Hamid said that since he became the top cop, police had identified and transferred fewer than 10 officers out of the department.

“Some have been suspended, while some have been given the chance to defend themselves and are now under investigation,” the Singapore daily reported him as saying.

Hamid’s revelation comes a day after Johor police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay says he will not be handing over the names of police officers and personnel who conspired with “Geng Nicky” to Bukit Aman.

On Tuesday, it was reported that JIPS director Zamri Yahya was waiting for the list of names involving police officers and personnel who had allegedly worked with the gang led by fugitive businessman Nicky Liow.

Zamri said Bukit Aman needed the list from the Johor police before it could take further action against the errant cops.

Hamid had in January alleged that there was a “cartel of dirty cops” in the Malaysian police force.

He said the cartel, which he claimed was trying to topple him, comprised middle-level police officers.

Hamid said the cartel would ensure that their collaborators get promoted so they could dominate their teams and the police hierarchy in the future, making it easier for them to do their “dirty work”. - FMT