Cops charged with conspiracy, extorting RM10,000 from Thai nationals
The accused, Mohd Shukri Amran, 35; Mohammad Faizal Mirdukhim @ Mustapa, 43; and, Muhammad Arifshah Zulkefli, 23, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before magistrate Nurul Rasyidah.
According to the charges, the three are alleged to have conspired and intentionally extorted Anotai Saentawee and Suwit Sake, causing the victims to fear harm and hand over RM10,000 in cash.
The offence allegedly took place at a southbound rest and service area petrol station in Juru near here about 1.30am on Nov 26 last year.
They were charged under Section 385 of the Penal Code, read with Section 34, which provides for a penalty of up to seven years in prison, a fine, caning or any two of these punishments if convicted.
Another accused, Muhammad Nizar Mat Axid, 40, also pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of extortion involving the same victims.
Nizar, who is also a policeman, is accused of conspiring to extort Saentawee and Sake with the other three accused at a rented house in Jalan Setia 2, Taman Setia about 2.30am on the same date.
He was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 385, which provides for a penalty of up to seven years in prison, a fine, caning or any two of these punishments if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Nor Shakila Dahari proposed bail of RM10,000 with one surety for each accused, but the defence lawyers requested a lower amount, citing that all of them serve at the Seberang Prai Tengah district police headquarters and needed to support their families.
Shukri was represented by lawyer M. Puveneswaran, Arifshah was represented by lawyer Muhammad Amirul Hakim and Faizal and Nizar were represented by Ima Syakira Mohd Salim, a lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation.
The court allowed bail of RM4,000 with one surety for each accused and set Sept 12 for mention.
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