KUALA LUMPUR: Three policemen from the General Operations Force (GOF) were charged at the magistrate's court today with stealing RM85,000 during the multi-enforcement-agency "Mini Dhaka" raid in Jalan Silang on Dec 21.
Lance Corporal Mohamad Adib Mohd Zafri,35, Corporal Muhamad Hafiz Irsyad Mohd Nawi,30 and Lance Corporal Mohamad Amirul Aiman Mamat,26, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read out to them before magistrate Aina Azahra Arifin.
The charge sheet read that they had allegedly, together with the common intention, stolen RM85,000 owned by Ngwe Gabar Sdn Bhd at 29, Level 1, Jalan Lebuh Pudu off Jalan Silang in Dang Wangi.
They had committed the offence on Dec 21 at about 2.27pm.
The offence under Section 380 of the Penal Code carries a maximum of a 10-year jail term and a fine upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Izzat Amir Idham did not offer bail as the trio had committed the offence as civil servants entrusted with their discharging duties as policemen.
"This matter has caused public outrage on the integrity and responsibility of security personnel when they are on duty.
"If the court wants to offer bail, the prosecution stresses that it should not be less than RM30,000 with two sureties for each accused.
"As additional conditions, their passports must be surrendered to the court until the case is disposed of and must report to the nearest police station monthly," he said.
Defence counsel Adi Zulkarnain Zulkafli, representing Adib and Hafiz Irsyad, asked for minimum bail as both his clients earned RM2,100 monthly and are supporting their respective families.
"I ask that they be given bail while waiting for trial. They are innocent until proven guilty," he said.
Defence counsel Khairunnisa Azzahrah Ghazalie, who stood for Amirul Aiman, said the bail sum was to ensure her client's attendance in court and it should not be meant as punishment.
"He is innocent until guilty. He is single and supports his aged parents.
"His friend will post bail for him today," she said.
Magistrate Aina Azahra set bail at RM17,000 with two sureties for each accused.
She ruled that their passports must be surrendered to the court and they must report to the nearest police station monthly.
On Dec 24, city police chief Datuk Allaudeen Abdul Majid said three policemen aged between 26 and 35 were arrested for allegedly stealing RM85,000 from a premises during a raid in Jalan Silang.
He said police received a report on the stolen money at 12.36am on Dec 22 and the case was probed under Section 380 of the same code.
They were caught in a closed circuit television camera (CCTV) recording of the premises.
They were remanded for four days from Dec 23 to Dec 26 and it was subsequently extended.
Police had reportedly recovered RM63,500 and seized a Perodua Myvi, two handphones and receipts for tyre purchases and vehicle maintenance.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay pledged thorough investigations, adding that they would not conceal their officers from the crime and would not tolerate those who were allegedly involved in it.
On Dec 21, over 1,000 GOF officers and personnel surrounded Jalan Silang dubbed as 'Mini Dhaka'.
The operation was to raid the colony of foreigners, who were seen as becoming increasingly bold and behaving like locals.
Fully armed security forces with special equipment were seen entering each premises of four blocks in the area.
A total of 1,101 immigrants were detained in the raid.
Authorities seized 100 cartons of cigarettes worth RM 22,000, 90 cartons of alcoholic drinks worth RM48,000, and unapproved medicines worth RM34,530.