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Dompok orders probe into alleged land grab
June
02, 2008 (Source:
Daily Express)
Kuala Lumpur: Minister in the Prime
Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernand Dompok has
instructed the Public Complaints Bureau to
conduct an immediate probe on allegations of
power abuse by senior police officers in a
land-grabbing issue at Kampung Tingkayu in Kunak,
Sabah.
Dompok said the affected smallholder who had
worked on the land for the past 23 years met him
in Parliament on Tuesday and briefed him on the
issue.
"This is a very serious matter as it involves
senior police officers. I've instructed the
bureau's Director-General Dr Chua Hong Teck to
look into the complaint.
"We guarantee a fair probe. The bureau will
treat the complainant fairly as promised in the
bureau's clients' charter," he said Sunday.
Dompok said the bureau would convene a special
meeting this week to discuss the matter.
"If it is proven that the said police officers
misused their power, stern action would be taken
against them, as nobody is above the law.
"The bureau will be cooperating with other
relevant agencies once the investigation started
and all parties should give their fullest
cooperation," he said, adding "we don't want to
see public trust towards the authorities fade."
In April, Bernama reported that a top-ranking
senior law enforcement officer holding the title
of "Datuk" and police officers in Kunak are
being investigated by the Sabah Anti-Corruption
Agency for allegedly offering "protection
services" to a real estate company which
allegedly seized 787 hectares (about 4,000
acres) of oil palm plantations belonging to
smallholders.
In exchange for their "services", the company,
which is also involved in money lending, had
reportedly given the officers kickbacks and
other benefits, including offering its company's
shares.
Bernama also reported that the company concerned
had employed more than 100 illegal immigrants
who doubled as thugs to seize the land worth
about RM40 million and more than 40 police
reports were lodged between January and March
this year at the Kunak police station, but was
not entertained.
It is learnt that the State Government would
also be briefed on the issue as the smallholders
have alleged that few officers of the Land and
Survey Department might be involved in the
scandal.
Meanwhile, one of the smallholders who wished to
be known as Anthony, 50, said an official
complaint letter was handed to the Home Ministry
on Thursday.
"In the letter we have asked the Minister Datuk
Seri Syed Hamid Albar to take appropriate action
against the police officers who failed to
discharge their duty and abused their power.
"We have all the evidence to prove that the
complaints made were true and we hope our
nightmare will end soon," he added. - Bernama
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