Lance corporal, constable detained for drug abuse

GEORGE TOWN: Two policemen were detained last week for drug abuse.

State police chief Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the two policemen, with the rank of lance corporal and constable, were arrested after their urine tests came back positive for drugs.

He said one of them was in the process of being suspended from work while another was investigated previously after the urine test came back positive.

However, there was no solid evidence to be prosecuted in court.

"We conducted urine tests on nine policemen, two of whom tested positive for drugs. The tests were conducted by the Bukit Aman Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS), state police contingent headquarters' JIPS and Seberang Prai Tengah district police.

"As I said, I will not compromise on misconduct or abuse of power among police personnel and officers," he told a press conference at the state police contingent headquarters here today.

Shuhaily said the two policemen were among 380 people arrested from Jan 1 to Jan 9 for drug-related offences.

"Of the total, 117 people were arrested for supply offences, 204 possession and 59 whose urine test came back positive for drugs.

"Our focus this year is to combat drug trafficking in Penang in efforts to reduce drug addicts because they are among the contributors to criminal cases," he added.

Disciplinary offences involving state police showed an increase in cases of 35.71 per cent last year compared to 2020.

Prior to this, the state police had confirmed that it had opened 171 disciplinary investigation papers last year compared to 126 in 2020.

The 171 investigation papers involved 314 people, namely 43 senior officers, 269 junior officers and two civil servants.

The total number of investigation papers (cases) was 171 with 107 disciplinary cases; crime (33); drugs (17); absenteeism (8), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission cases (four) and syariah (two).

Meanwhile, Shuhaily added that out of the 314 people, 28 were still under investigation for action, including suspension, detention and dismissal.