JOHOR BARU – More than 30% of personnel at four police stations and one district police headquarters division in Johor have been identified as having serious integrity issues.
State police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said this is the finding of a study and review by the state Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS) of all police stations and district police headquarters divisions in the contingent.
He said state police are conducting a “cleansing” process to identify cops with disciplinary problems.
He said 263 officers and personnel, of whom 91 have disciplinary records, have been identified as problematic.
“This has the potential to become a problem for the stations and branches concerned.
“If necessary, we will expose (the four stations and one division), but the important thing is that action is taken... no need to hide anymore, the situation is getting more serious, and I will not compromise,” he told a press conference here today.
He said all the personnel identified will undergo the My Liability Programme, involving sessions with the state religious and counselling division, and if necessary, they will be transferred out.
From the start of the year, he said, the state JIPS has opened 230 disciplinary investigation papers on 32 senior cops, 246 junior officers and two civil servants, with misconduct being the most common issue at 154 cases, followed by drug-related matters at 46.
Many of them involve personnel with up to 18 disciplinary cases, but not subjected to dismissal, he said, adding that there will be no compromise this time.
He said the department has also opened 161 disciplinary inquiry papers on 78 senior officers and 152 low-ranking members related to slander and poison pen letters.
Action has been taken against 32 policemen under Regulation 37 (with dismissal or demotion), 162 under Regulation 36 (actions not aimed at dismissal or demotion) and 37 under Regulation 33 (court conviction).
“To date, 45 senior officers and members have also been charged in court, 14 suspended and 46 sacked for various criminal offences and misconduct. Johor has the highest number of dismissal cases this year,” said Ayob Khan.
This year alone saw 54 personnel arrested after random drug tests, with one officer each detained for vehicle theft, protecting foreigners, and being in possession of ketum, while two were involved in extortion, he said.
He added that the state JIPS has identified 22 personnel with criminal records, including individuals on the wanted list before joining the force, with action to be taken against them.
“JIPS also checked the background of all 829 police volunteers, and found that two officers and 42 personnel have criminal records, and some have been convicted in court.
“They are still serving at police stations, and will be recommended for termination of service.” – Bernama, December 17, 2020
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