KUALA LUMPUR: Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar today confirmed that some of his family members know Gopinathan Krishnan, the individual arrested in a protection racket crackdown in Melaka last month.
Gopinathan, arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), was suspected of being a key 'intermediary' in a major police protection racket across gambling dens and prostitution houses in Melaka.
Khalid was responding to a query over a Sarawak Report posting, which alleged that the man, better known as Gopi, was in direct telephone contact with the top cop, his brother in-law and his son.
Khalid however maintained that people who know him or his family members would still have to face the music if they are found to be involved in illegal activities.
"If Gopi committed any offence in the case the MACC are investigating, my organisation and I will give our full cooperation.
"It is not possible for me to know everything they are doing but I will not connive with him," he told a press conference today.
Khalid also noted that his phone number is known to the public.
"I don't even know some of the people who message and call me," he said.
Khalid believes the online portal harbours ill-intent towards him and the police. He also noted that this isn't the first time such allegations have been hurled at him.
Gopi was among the 13 suspects arrested in an operation dubbed 'Op Gapi' last month.
It was reported that the main suspect, in his 50s, is suspected of being the main conduit for bribes to Melaka policemen since he "took over" several districts to run vice activities.
District police chiefs and policemen were also rounded up in the operation over suspicion of having accepted bribes and providing protection to illegal gambling dens and massage parlours around Melaka.