Two friends who impersonated traffic police officers and extorted two teenagers were each fined RM5,000 each by the Ipoh Magistrate’s Court.
Magistrate Mohd Harith Mohd Mazlan imposed the sentence on Wong Jiun Wei, 24, and Lim Boon Ping, 40, with a 12-month jail term if they failed to pay the fine.
According to the charge, the two men impersonated and deceived the 17 and 15-year-old teenagers by demanding money from them in exchange for not issuing a summons or taking them to the police station.
The offense was committed in front of a restaurant at Jalan Lebuh Bercham Selatan 1, Taman Ipoh Timur Baru, in the Kinta district, at 12:38 a.m. on November 1 last year.
The charge was framed under Section 419 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum punishment of seven years imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Meanwhile, in the same court, Jiun Wei was also fined RM2,000 and sentenced to five months in jail if he failed to pay the fine after pleading guilty to possessing police equipment, namely a cap with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) logo inscribed with “Jabatan Siasatan Polis Trafik (JSPT)” and JSPT boots inscribed with PDRM, at the same time and date.
The charge was framed under Section 89 of the Police (Amendment) Act 2004, which carries a maximum punishment of six months imprisonment, a fine not exceeding RM5,000, or both.
Deputy Public Prosecutor S Nishaalini requested a proportionate sentence, taking into account public interest and the fact that the offense committed by the two accused had damaged the integrity of PDRM, in addition to evidence of a money transfer amounting to RM400.
Lawyer K Nathan appealed for a lenient sentence on the grounds that it was his clients’ first offense and that both of them worked as a food stall assistant and an electrician, earning RM1,500 each.
According to the case facts, the accused detained the complainant and impersonated traffic police officers by wearing clothing resembling police uniforms, such as traffic boots, black pants with cream stripes, and a cap with the PDRM logo.
During the incident, the accused were found to have intimidated the victims with threats of issuing a summons and taking them to the police station for riding a modified motorcycle, and also demanded money from the complainant to settle the matter without further action.
