Three cops held for asking RM100 from British couple

IPOH: Three traffic policemen have been arrested in connection with an alleged bribery incident where a British couple on holiday here was asked for payment in lieu of a speeding ticket. Perak police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the trio, aged between 37 and 42, were from the state Traffic Enforcement Investigation Department.

They have been remanded for three days until Feb 1 under Section 384 of the Penal Code following a video posted by the British couple, in which a policeman had allegedly asked for a RM100 bribe during a traffic stop to “settle” a speeding incident.

“Investigations are also being carried out under Section 17(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, and Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act 1988,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Comm Mohd Yusri said the investigation papers have been taken over by Bukit Aman’s Classified Crime Investigation Unit (USJT), and will be referred to the deputy public prosecutor once the investigations are completed.

“Besides that, internal investigations by the Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) will also be carried out.

“We are requesting the victims involved in the case to come forward to give their cooperation to the police so that the investigations can be completed as soon as possible,’’ he said.

The British couple, famous on social media for their globe-trotting adventures in a campervan, had posted the video on Jan 28. They alleged the incident happened the day before.

During their time in Malaysia, Chris and Marianne Fisher filmed a traffic policeman allegedly offering an “on the spot” payment option that promises to be cheaper than the standard rate for speeding if one chooses to pay through official channels.

In the video, the traffic policeman informed the Fishers they had driven over the 60kph limit, and told them they had two options: either pay RM300 at a police station, or pay RM100 on the spot.

The traffic policeman was believed to have stopped the couple’s campervan at the downhill stretch along Jalan Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands, near here.