BUTTERWORTH: Penang police have completed investigations into the extortion case involving five policemen and a factory worker in Permatang Tinggi last week.
State police chief Datuk Khaw Kok Chin said the investigation paper (IP) had been referred to the Bukit Aman legal division.
He said, thereafter, the IP would be brought back before being referred to the state prosecution director for further instruction.
Asked if all five policemen were involved, Khaw reserved his comments for now.
"We are awaiting for the state prosecution director's decision. Be patient for now.
"If it (the investigation) is positive (that they have committed the crime as alleged), then they will be charged," he added, noting that the remand order for the five has been extended until Friday.
The New Straits Times reported on Saturday that five policemen in the state were detained in connection to an extortion case involving a factory worker in Permatang Tinggi last Thursday.
The five — a 48-year-old police sergeant, two corporals aged 35 and 38, and two lance corporals aged 24 and 30 — are all attached to the Seberang Prai Tengah district police headquarters.
They were detained after police received a report from the 27-year-old man, who allegedly paid RM4,500 to the suspects.
In the 10.15pm incident, the factory worker was driving from Permatang Tinggi to Simpang Ampat, when he was allegedly stopped by two police mobile patrol vehicles.
Three policemen then came over to check his vehicle.
During checks, one of the policemen claimed to have found a plastic bag containing powder, believed to be drugs, inside the man's car.
The man denied that the item belonged to him. The policemen insisted otherwise and said that he could face harsh punishment.
The man then claimed another police car arrived with two personnel inside, and he was asked to pay RM10,000 to avoid being arrested.
After discussion, the man was asked to pay RM4,500, in which the money was later handed over to one of the policemen at a separate location.
After paying the money, the dissatisfied man lodged a police report.
Asked if Penang police would overhaul the mobile patrol vehicles unit following the latest incident, Khaw said they were looking at the likelihood of doing so.
"Based on my checks yesterday, we have about 90 policemen in the MPV unit and motorcycle patrol unit (URB), which have served for more than six years.
"They are plans to move them," he said.
There are about 300 policemen in both units.
Khaw was met after the launch of the state-level Op Selamat in conjunction with the forthcoming Chinese New Year celebration at the south-bound Sungai Dua toll here.
