KENINGAU – Police have initiated two separate investigations on a politician who recently claimed that a mother here attempted to sell her three children due to poverty.
Keningau district police chief Deputy Superintendent Shahrudin Mat Husain said that the press statement issued by Sabah PKR Youth chief Raymond Ahuar on June 16 could trigger public concern among the community.
“Following this, the police have opened two investigation papers, of which the first is under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for conducting public mischief. The second investigation is under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network service,” he said in a press statement here today.
Last Wednesday (June 16), Ahuar had issued a press release stating that police and the Keningau Community Welfare Department have thwarted an attempt by a mother to sell her three children at the Malaysian-Indonesia border.
On the very same day, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali denied Ahuar’s claim that there was a human trafficking case in Keningau.
However, the next day Ahuar issued another statement to defend himself, claiming that the incident did happen and questioning Hazani’s statement.
“The case really did happen. In fact, I have lodged a police report in which I had included all the proof from police officers and Welfare Department officers who were involved.
“This expose does not benefit me in any way, and I do not blame any party including the police – but I hope for justice for the rural folks.
“I am ready to cooperate with the police to facilitate the investigation,” Ahuar said on June 16.
Commenting on this, Shahruddin said that the police are taking the statement seriously, as it is misleading as if such crime is rampant without the authorities doing anything about it.
“Investigation found that the human trafficking case did not exist during this incident. In fact, the mother of the children had lodged a police report to strongly deny the politician’s two statements.
“The police are always alert and welcome any information related to smuggling and human trafficking,” he said.
He advised the community to stop spreading such news without verifying with the police, so that public order can be maintained, especially in the rural areas. –The Vibes, June 19, 2021
