BUTTERWORTH: Police have launched an internal probe on its officers and personnel over Honda Civic 1.8S patrol vehicle (MPV) which was stolen from the Seberang Prai Utara district police headquarters here on Saturday night.
Stressing that they had nothing to hide, district police chief Assistant Commissioner Noorzainy Mohd Noor vowed stern action would be taken against officers and personnel found negligent in the incident.
"Investigations are ongoing. All officers and personnel involved will be called up to have their statements taken for us to determine possible elements of negligence in the incident.
"I just want to say that we have never stopped investigations against (the police), and that our probe will be transparent.
"If there are elements of negligence, stern action, including disciplinary action, will be instituted against those involved," he told newsmen here today.
It was reported that police had arrested two siblings and a woman, believed to have been involved in the theft of the MPV from the Seberang Prai Utara district police headquarters.
Meanwhile, Noorzainy said further probe by police into the incident revealed that the 21-year-old woman arrested was merely a victim of circumstances.
"She is not the girlfriend of the elder sibling, who was arrested with her inside the car in Shah Alam, as widely speculated by netizens.
"In fact, she was taken away by the elder sibling from her workplace in Tasek Gelugor after he impersonated a police officer.
"The elder sibling had also taken two cellphones and some money belonging to the woman and had threatened to harm her if she did not follow him," he added.
Noorzainy said the woman was released on bail on Monday and had lodged a police report over the incident.
He added that the elder sibling, with nine previous records for crime and drug-related offences, had acted the way he did because he wanted to meet his wife in Klang," he said, pointing out that the elder sibling suffers from mental problems.
Yesterday, Bukit Aman Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS) director Datuk Zamri Yahya had said that JIPS would launch a thorough probe involving all aspects, including possible negligence by those on duty.