THREE police officers attached to the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism (E8) division have been arrested on suspicion of pulling off at least 12 cases of extortion involving foreign workers in Klang Valley in recent months.

A police source told The Malaysian Insight that all three policemen had admitted to extorting at least 12 stores owned by Acehnese traders.

“We detained an Inspector and two constables from the E8 division after a report was lodged last Thursday by an owner of the store.

“Based on our investigation, we found out that all suspects had extorted at least 12 stores in Klang Valley – four in Ampang, two in Setapak, two in Selayang, one each in Sg Buloh, Ulu Yam, Meru and Klang respectively,” the source said.

The police source, however, declined to elaborate on how the suspects were apprehended.

Another police source close to the investigation said that on July 11, the three suspects extorted a store in Lembah Jaya Selatan in Ampang about 11.30pm by arresting a cashier and then asking money from the store owner for his (the cashier’s) release.

“Last Thursday, at about 11.30pm, the suspects drove to the store using a Perodua Alza. When they arrived, they showed the cashier their police identity card.

“Later, they forced the cashier, who is a foreigner, to get into their car and he was taken to IPD Ampang Jaya. In the car, the victim alleged that he was beaten by one of the suspects using a helmet.

“At the police station, the owner of the store called the cashier and the suspects answered the phone call. They demanded RM1,500 for his release. The owner agreed and they took the victim back to the store where the owner paid the money to the suspects,” the source said.

The case is being investigated under Section 396 of the Penal Code for gang robbery.

Selangor police chief Noor Azam Jamaluddin, when contacted, confirmed the arrest and said all suspects are currently held under remand for four days from July 17 to 21. – July 19, 2019.