Traffic cops who 'escorted' private car acted on their own, now on desk duty pending probe

GEORGE TOWN: Two traffic policemen seen on video escorting a private vehicle along Jalan Bukit Gambir here have been pulled from the field and reassigned to administrative duties.

This is pending a detailed investigation that may result in further action, Penang police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said.

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"After an internal investigation, it was found that no official or unofficial instructions were issued by their superiors at the Penang contingent level for the task of accompanying the individual on that day.

"The act of performing duties without official instructions either from senior officers or task supervisors is a serious offence," he told a press conference at the state contingent headquarters in Penang Road on Monday (May 9).

Comm Mohd Shuhaily assured the public that there would be no compromise with any officer when it involves misconduct and violation of SOP.

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Meanwhile, he said the driver in his 20s recorded in the video has been contacted to have his statement recorded.

"We have asked the individual to step forward to facilitate the investigation under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 if there were elements intending to bring down the dignity of police.

"The individual has been contacted and he will cooperate," he added.

Comm Mohd Shuhaily declined, however, to confirm if the driver was the son of a Member of Parliament.

On Sunday (May 8), police initiated an investigation after videos showing two traffic policemen escorting a private vehicle along Jalan Bukit Gambir went viral on social media.

The 20-second video, which was detected at 8.36pm on Saturday (May 7), was uploaded on Facebook by a user named anwarazeez.

It shows a man at the wheel of a private vehicle being escorted by two traffic policemen on a motorcycle belonging to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).

The video shows a policeman appearing to stop an oncoming car intending to make a turn, allowing the vehicle to run the red light.

It shows a car having the right of way abruptly braking, causing the vehicle behind it to also stop suddenly to avoid a collision.

On a separate matter, Comm Mohd Shuhaily said the Criminal Investigation Department is investigating allegations of misuse of power by policemen after a video of them kicking a person at a roadblock in Bukit Mertajam went viral.

"We confirm it was at a roadblock taken yesterday (Sunday, May 8) on the last day of Ops Selamat.

"The victim has not lodged a police report and we are looking for them to help with the investigation and help us understand the incident.

"We will be obtaining information from other officers at the scene as well as witnesses," he said.