Officers Responsible For Shoddy Police Probes May Get The Boot. But Transfer The Perak CPO First.

Police investigating officers who do a shoddy job leading to their cases getting thrown out by the courts risk being fired from the force, said Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum.

"We will not compromise with officers who fail to conduct proper investigations into murder cases," he told reporters after opening a seminar for directors and senior management in the security industry here today.

He said this when asked to comment on the botched investigation into the murder of a 21-year-old engineering student in 2003 which led to the case to be thrown out by the Ipoh High Court last Wednesday (Jan 24).

Five suspects in the case, one of them the son of a former Ipoh Mayor, were acquitted without their defence being called. Mohd Johari said the investigating officers in the case would be brought before the Police's Disciplinary Board if found to have failed in carrying out their duties properly.

"It is pathetic ... this is not the first high profile murder case to be thrown out of court ... I want Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to submit a report on it to the ministry as soon as possible," he added, reports Bernama.

He said he would have a special meeting with Musa and other Bukit Aman senior directors next Wednesday (Jan 31) to discuss and identify weaknesses in the handling of high profile murder cases. "I want to know if elements like corruption are hampering investigations," he added.

Meanwhile, Musa, when met at the World Customs Day celebrations in the Customs Complex in Kelana Jaya here, said police were still investigating the matter (the case that was thrown out in Ipoh) including on claims that the investigating officer had only just joined the force when entrusted with the job.

"This is a serious matter, so give us time to investigate properly," he added. (TheSun)

***** The IGP is to be commended for the fast reaction to this shameful episode and miscarriage of justice. However the number one cop in the state, Perak police chief SAC I Datuk Abdul Aziz Bulat should be the first one to be removed. At the very least he should be transferred to Bukit Aman for an extended period as a desk-bound pen pusher.

Firstly he should have taken direct responsibility for the dereliction of duty by his subordinates. Secondly he should not have too hastily, without thinking supported his officers by saying that "the police had done all they could to ensure a strong prosecution case." That statement totally exposed him as an untruthful and uncaring person out only to protect the hide of his pegawai2 and himself while not at all concerned about the grave injustice done to the deceased and his family. His subsequent statements in support of his men while good for morale, sets a very bad precedent when senior officials like him appear to condone criminal negligence.

Finally and more importantly it is appalling that such a senior police official thought it fit to cry "unfair remarks," while publicly disagreeing and taking issue with the judge who passed the strictures! His impulsive behaviour is unbecoming of the high office he currently occupies and matters could turn really ugly if the learned judge were to exercise his considerable judicial muscle and cite him for contempt. Abdul Aziz Bulat has to go.
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