KUALA LUMPUR: Likening the actions of the four policemen caught in the alleged theft of jewellery from a deceased woman to inhumane behaviour, Malaysia's top cop has warned his personnel that misconduct will not be tolerated.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain also vowed that a thorough investigation will be conducted into the matter without compromise.
"We will not hesitate to take stern action if our investigation uncovers evidence of their involvement in this case. Such behaviour is irresponsible and inhumane.
"Let these arrests be a reminder to all our personnel, whether they are rank and file or officers, that we will not tolerate acts that tarnish the image of the police force," he said when contacted on Friday.
It was reported earlier that the four policemen were arrested in Setapak in connection with an alleged jewellery theft case reported by a local man.
The case, initially classified as an inquiry paper (KEP), was later reclassified under Section 379 of the Penal Code after further information was obtained.
A remand application under the Criminal Procedure Code was filed yesterday, and all suspects were remanded for three days until Nov 2.
The arrests involved policemen with ranks ranging from Constable to Corporal, aged between 28 and 35.
Syazwan Abdullah, 59, claimed that the jewellery worn by his daughter when she was found dead in a car parked at a condominium in Setapak on Oct 1 has since gone missing.
He said he was informed by his daughter's landlord about the discovery of her body early on the morning of Oct 1.
It was reported that she was found by patrolling police officers who noticed her Proton Saga parked in the area, locked with the engine running and the lights on.
Once his daughter was buried in Banting, Selangor, he felt compelled to search for the chain, locket, and bracelet that her grandmother and sister had given her.
He was informed by both the hospital and the police that she was not wearing any jewellery when she was found in the vehicle. He searched throughout the rental house, which yielded no results, leading him to refer the matter to the fire department, who broke the window of the locked car.
He said that on the day of the incident, the fire department took photos before and after breaking the car window, as the vehicle was locked. According to him, based on the photos, his daughter was still wearing the jewellery before her body was handed over to the police for further action.
He claimed that the images clearly showed his daughter wearing the jewellery, but in the photos provided by the police, the chain and bracelet were missing. As a former senior police officer, he expressed disappointment that the investigating officer seemed uncooperative regarding the case.