Ops Kabaddi: 21 police officers arrested nationwide

Twenty-one police officers and personnel have been arrested nationwide under the ''Ops Kabaddi'' operation to nab policemen suspected of protecting perpetrators of crime, including drug trafficking syndicates.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim said today all the suspects had been arrested under the Security Offences (Special Preventive Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA).

''Ops Kabaddi'' was launched early this month to rid the force of personnel who were involved in protecting perpetrators of crime.

"Police investigations are ongoing and, at the management level, we will rectify the weaknesses," he said after the passing-out parade of 604 trainee cadet inspectors of the 2/2016 Series at the Malaysian Police Training Centre, Kuala Lumpur, here today.

It had been reported that several policemen, among them senior officers, had been arrested at the Narcotics Department of Bukit Aman on suspicion of having protected drug trafficking syndicates instead of busting them.

Asked about the arrests of seven police officers in Melaka by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Noor Rashid said they were still under detention for investigation.

He said the force was considering frequent transfers of policemen as a means of preventing them from getting involved in unethical activities.

"Integrity and trust are emphasised for appointments to sensitive positions because these policemen must have the resilience to resist temptation (for corruption)," he said.

-- BERNAMA