FOUR officers from the Lahad Datu district police headquarters have been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for allegedly receiving “protection money” from an unlicensed moneylender.

Fed up with having to pay a monthly “protection fee” of RM20,000, the moneylender reported the matter to MACC.

Those detained comprised the Lahad Datu Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) chief, a sergeant attached to CCID, a lance corporal and a corporal, according to a statement by the Sabah MACC.

The CCID chief, who has the rank of inspector, has been remanded for seven days, beginning yesterday, to facilitate investigations.

The graft-busters said the inspector allegedly received or obtained RM18,000 last Wednesday and RM2,000 on Monday, and was nabbed in a sting operation by the state MACC on Monday.

The 34-year-old will be investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years or a fine of not less than five times the sum received.

Section 17(a) states that it is an offence to accept gratification as an inducement for acts in relation to the principal’s business.

MACC believes that the other three officers, who were also picked up on Monday, were involved in the soliciting and receiving of the RM18,000 last week.

The arrests come after state police signed the Corruption-Free Pledge on July 24.

State Police Commissioner Ramli Din confirmed with The Malaysian Insight the arrests made.

“We will leave it to MACC to do its work, and we will cooperate with the commission in its investigations.”

The Sabah police force, for years, has not denied that there are officers involved in corrupt practices, but always vowed action against those caught. – August 23, 2017.