PETALING JAYA: A policeman turned down a RM45,000 bribe by a businessman who wanted to be let off the hook during a raid at an entertainment centre in Ulu Tiram, Johor on Tuesday.
Johor police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the businessman had offered the money to the officer leading the raid in a bid to evade action being taken against him and 66 others.
It was the second raid conducted at the premise, the first one being on Nov 1.
“We suspect the businessman has acted as a go-between for the owners of premises around Johor by using the state police chief’s name to obtain financial remuneration,” Bernama quoted Ayob Khan as saying.
Ayob also said the 47-year-old suspect, who has since been handed over to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, had also used his name to carry out illegal activities at the premises.
The 66 individuals, comprising 46 men and 20 women and aged between 21 and 60, were fined RM1,000 each for not practising physical distancing.
Fifteen of them, including three women, tested positive for methamphetamine and ketamine.
Meanwhile, Johor MACC director Azmi Alias said the businessman was detained at the MACC office last night at 10.30pm to facilitate investigations.
A five-day remand order starting today had been issued against him by the Johor Bahru magistrate court’s Registrar.