JOHOR BARU: A senior officer and three policemen from the Batu Pahat district police headquarters were arrested, for allegedly extorting money from a furniture factory manager on Thursday.
State police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said investigations revealed that the 50-year-old factory manager was threatened to give RM1,500.
The money was for the senior officer and three policemen as an inducement not to take action against the Bangladeshi workers, who did not have permits, at the furniture factory.
Ayob said, the manager, however, could not come up with the said amount, causing the senior officer and three policemen to lower it to only RM1,000.
The factory manager handed the money and no action was taken against the foreign workers.
"The factory manager then lodged a police report. The senior officer and three policemen, aged between 26 and 46, were arrested on Thursday."
All of them were remanded from April 8 to 9, under Section 384 of the Penal Code for extortion.
"We are completing the investigation paper with the prosecutor and the case is likely to be charged at court this weekend," he said in a press conference held at Johor Police Headquarters here today.
Ayob Khan said the said senior officer and three policemen were believed to have been extorting money for a long time by targeting factories in Batu Pahat.
"I am urging the public to continue funneling information to me, so that we can take action.
"Should you have reported to the district police chief, but no action was taken, I will take action against the district police chief involved." he said.