An aide to a Penang state executive councillor has accused two police officers of extorting RM1,000 from her to “settle” an alleged drink-driving offence.
The two officers, identified as Shahrizal Ali and Fadzli Jamaludin, have been charged under Section 384 of the Penal Code for extortion, an offence that carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, a fine, or both.
Testifying at the George Town Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Dec 23), the complainant, Mandy Leow, said she was stopped at a police roadblock along Jalan Anson near the Penang Buddhist Association at about 2.25am on March 14.
Leow told the court she was instructed to exit her vehicle and undergo a breathalyser test. However, she claimed the test result was not shown to her, alleging that one of the officers rolled up the printout and placed it in his pocket.
She said she was then informed that the punishment for drink driving could include a RM10,000 fine and imprisonment, and was told to return to her car to “think it over”. According to her testimony, another officer later approached her and said he could help reduce the fine. Leow claimed she told him she only had RM1,000 in savings.
Leow further alleged that she was asked to sit in the passenger seat of her car while a man in plain clothes drove her to a convenience store along Magazine Road with an ATM. She said she was instructed to withdraw RM1,000, after which she was taken back to the roadblock and handed the cash to the officers.
Before being allowed to leave at around 4.15am, Leow claimed her mobile phone was checked to ensure she had not recorded the incident.
During cross-examination, Leow admitted to consuming beer prior to the incident but maintained that she was not intoxicated. She also denied using her position as an aide to a state exco to exert influence, saying she merely stated her occupation in official reports to the police and the Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS).
Leow said she initially lodged a report with JIPS but was later told there had been no progress. Out of concern for her personal safety, she subsequently filed a police report on April 23. She also alleged receiving several calls from individuals claiming to be from different police stations, suggesting she could recover the RM1,000 if she withdrew her report.
The trial is set to continue on March 9, 2026.
