Malaysian police corruption in the park

"Couple get summons for 'kiss' in park" is the setup, and it all comes out in a follow-up (partially quoted here because I can't find the article on Straits Times' site):

KL officers who nabbed 'indecent' couple suspended

PETALING JAYA - Two Kuala Lumpur City Hall enforcement officers who issued summonses to a couple for behaving 'indecently' at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park on Aug 2 have been suspended from their official duties.

They have been 'restricted' to desk duty, pending investigations.

Kuala Lumpur Mayor Mohmad Shaid Taufek said a check with the enforcement department last Sunday confirmed that summonses were issued to the couple for indecent behaviour.

'On Sunday, I gave instructions to my officers to further investigate the matter. This morning, we discovered all kinds of things, which I do not want to mention here,' he said on Tuesday.

'All I would like to say is that investigations into the allegation of corruption are under way.'

Notice that the couples' names are not typical Muslim. They are likely Thai or Chinese.

My wife points out that the police officers are charged with upholding Muslim law (Malaysia prides itself on being an advanced theocracy), but the end result is blackmailing non-Muslims.


Written by Andrew Ittner in misc on Wed 13 August 2003. Tags: international