Top cops held for protecting vice dens

PUTRAJAYA: One is a humble man who for the last four years has had a good relationship with the people. He is Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Shaikh Abdul Adzis Shaikh Abdullah.

The other is relatively new to the historical state, having just assumed office about four months ago. He is Jasin OCPD Deputy Supt Sakri Yusof @ Zahari, aged 46.

But both the top cops were arrested yesterday by anti-graft officers in a follow-up swoop.

Sources said cash amounting to RM79,000 was found in ACP Shaikh Abdul Adzis’ house.

On Tuesday, two senior officers with the rank of Asst Supt, two inspectors, two middle men and an operator of an illegal gambling den were rounded up in an operation codenamed Ops Gopi.

So far, anti-graft officers seized RM186,000 in cash and have frozen the bank accounts of all suspects totalling more than RM459,000.

Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Shaikh Abdul Adzis Shaikh Abdullah (inset, left), Jasin OCPD Deputy Supt Sakri Yusof Zahari (inset, right) and an inspector being taken away by MACC officers after a remand order was granted by a magistrate’s court in Putrajaya over their possible involvement in protecting illegal gambling dens and massage parlours in Melaka. — MOHD SAHAR MISNI / The Star

 

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki said his officers were in the midst of tracing the links.

“Give us some time to unearth the inner networking. There may be more arrests depending on the course of our investigations,” he said.

The anti-graft body is probing all six senior cops for allegedly giving protection to illegal gambling outlets and massage parlours in the state.

Sources said the MACC was investigating the extent of the involvement of both the OCPDs in the running of the illegal businesses.

Ironically, about one month ago, ACP Shaikh Abdul Adzis, 54, announced the success of his team in smashing an illegal gambling syndicate.

At the magistrate’s court here, all the nine suspects were remanded for six days until May 22 to assist in the probe.

“We suspected that the police officers were accepting money but we are still checking if they have received other forms of inducement,” added the source.

It is also learnt that one of the middlemen – a businessman from Taman Kelubi in Jasin – was known to drop names of Bukit Aman officers to intimidate other cops in the state.

Soon after several reports were lodged against him, he mellowed down.

The 41-year-old was said to have raked in thousands of ringgit monthly, working behind the scene to protect the illegal businesses.

“We got information that he has intimidated police officers and rank and file personnel who chose to go against him. He even threatened them with messages of immediate transfer,” said a source.

Another source added that the suspect had links with Bukit Aman and could recommend certain officers for key positions in the state, including as a district police chief.

Another middleman, in his late 30s, was said to be influential among illegal online gambling operators and prostitution racket in Melaka Tengah.

The suspect was said to have amassed ill-gotten wealth from over 80 illegal gambling outlets there.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, when contacted, issued a stern warning.

“We will not condone or protect those involved in illegal activities, especially if it threatens the security of the country.

“Stern action will be meted out against any personnel regardless of rank,” he said.