KUALA LUMPUR: Two traffic police impersonators were arrested while they were allegedly escorting three luxury vehicles on Jalan Bukit Bintang here today.
The duo were nabbed while travelling on two high-powered bikes similar to the ones police use, complete with sirens and beacon lights.
One of the suspects was a fried koay teow seller from Rawang while the other was a security guard in Jalan Ipoh here.
City Traffic Investigation and Legal staff officer Deputy Superintendent S. Markandan said the duo were nabbed while they were escorting the three vehicles; a Chrysler, a Mercedes Benz and an Audi at about 7pm.
"The real policemen making their rounds saw the two motorcycles escorting the vehicles.
"Suspecting something amiss, they asked the duo to pull over. Checks revealed they were wearing green reflector jackets and dark blue pants, similar to the traffic police but they were not wearing any police emblem," he told reporters at city traffic police station here today.
The other three vehicles sped off when the duo were pulled over.
"We are tracking down the vehicles and will call up the owners for questioning," he said.
Markandan said checks revealed the motorcycles used by the suspects, priced about RM9,000 each, were purchased at a police auction through a third party.
The suspects, he said, had installed the beacon lights, sirens and speakers illegally to resemble police motorcycles.
Police also seized police emblems, uniforms and walkie-talkies from the suspects.
The duo were taken to the police station for further investigations.
Markandan said police are investigating whether the suspects had other accomplices.
"We believe this arrest is just the tip of the iceberg, and they may have other accomplices out there," he said.
Motorists are advised to come forward to the police if they have any information on such activities.
The case is being investigated under Section 170 of the Penal Code for impersonating civil servants.