Take allegations by ex-IGP on cop cartel seriously

 

From G Selvakumar

The government and relevant stakeholders must take former inspector-general of police (IGP) Abdul Hamid Bador’s allegations on the “dirty cops” cartel within the force more seriously.

The repercussions and the implications now and in future are at stake, apart from the demoralising effect it will have on public trust and confidence in the police force.

This allegation had come from the top-ranking officer in the police hierarchy and it is likely there was fire at the bottom of all this smoke. The only drawback is that Hamid, or those privy to the source of this information, did not officially reduce it into writing by lodging a police report.

That was basic and required by law. Hamid, being the guardian of the investigative limb in the criminal justice system at the material time, should have initiated criminal investigations and let the law take its course from the outset.

Part of the inquiry must also probe as to why this was not done.

The home ministry has, in my view, prematurely refuted all the allegations, even as they reiterate the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) is still probing the matter.

Obviously, this is a serious contradiction and a worrying conundrum of loose ends.

Hamid, who had the whole investigative system under his command, failed to take the necessary action at his disposal to verify these allegations before making them public.

Being the top cop at the time, he must have known about the implications and repercussions his allegations would create and should have prepared well ahead of the furore.

Police reports should have been lodged much earlier by those having first hand information or close to it and the former IGP should have steered these investigations to their conclusion.

Expecting others to lodge police reports, although possible, will not have the desired effect, especially when the source of the complaint is from, or close to, the top cop himself.

His subordinates will be reluctant to take the bull by its horns. Sufficient admissible evidence should have been gathered before such serious allegations were raised.

The EAIC, at this cold stage, will face an uphill battle handling investigations involving purported suspects who are experienced and seasoned cops.

The element of risk and danger increases if the offences satisfy the ingredients of serious crimes. These alleged wolves in sheep’s clothing could be more dangerous than hardcore criminals.

The cart was put well before the horse and more questions are now being asked. The longer this issue drags on, the less likely we are going to get to a plausible conclusion. This serious blot in the proud legacy of the Malaysian police must be put to bed as soon as possible.

An independent inquiry should be held as soon as possible and I presume the former IGP will be willing to assist to prove these allegations.

The inquiry must be independent and have the required experience to handle the expected difficulty in gathering the necessary evidence. All the powers and tools of criminal investigations, as stipulated in the Criminal Procedure Code, must be made available.

Interested parties who have been named or even implied by Hamid in his cartel allegations, must not be involved in the formation of the inquiry.

The police service deserves much better and we owe it to them to swiftly bring a clear and proper closure to these serious allegations. -FMT

G Selvakumar is a former police officer and an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.