Police: No evidence of vote-buying in Sandakan by-election except dark, blurry video

KOTA KINABALU: The police do not have any evidence that vote-buying occurred in the recent Sandakan by-election save for a dark and blurry video purportedly showing the act in progress, says Sabah police commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah.

He said there were no new developments to the case and police were trying to gather more evidence.

Reports were filed by opposition supporters alleging vote-buying took place during the by-election.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai had issued a statement on May 11, urging authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.

He said Sabah Bersih's report on the Sandakan by-election should also include the alleged vote-buying.

However, a Sabah Bersih spokesman said they had conducted a probe but could not find concrete evidence to support the allegations and it would not be in their report.

"Bersih cannot include these claims in our report as it is only hearsay," he said.

He also said that though they had received some photographs of the alleged act, they were unable to make out the parties handing out money and therefore could not determine the truth.

He explained that Bersih would only report what they observed directly or based on credible reports by the media.

However, he said "if allegations of vote-buying are true, the police must take action".