Corruption — a tale from two cities

By Art Harun from The Malaysian Insider

It was sometime in the late 1990’s. And it was in Singapore.

A trailer driver was delivering some goods to a Singaporean buyer. While doing so, he hit some tree branches which fell onto a car behind the trailer and slightly damaged the car.

Both men stopped their respective vehicle. While they were “settling” their “dispute”, a traffic police officer came by and stopped. Upon his inquiry, the trailer driver related what had happened to the officer. The officer then told the car driver that perhaps he should make a claim from his insurance company as it was not the fault of the trailer driver that his car was damaged.

Noting that the damage only involved some minor scratches, the car driver relented and drove off. The trailer driver was so relieved. He was also glad that the officer supported his case and was filled with gratitude to him.

In true Malaysian fashion, the trailer driver took out S$20 and gave it to the police officer. The police officer took it and rode off.

On the way back to Malaysia, the trailer driver was arrested at the Immigration checkpoint and detained. The next day he was charged for giving bribe to a police officer.

I was then advising the transport company for whom the driver worked. A Singaporean Counsel was engaged and he advised that it was an offence to do so. He advised the driver to plead guilty.

He did and was punished, fortunately, with a just rather hefty fine.

Fast forward to last Monday, May 3, 2010.

Time: 1.15am. Location, Jalan Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

The Sun newspaper (May 6 2010), on page 4, reported of two incidents at a police road block along Jalan Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. The report was entitled “Cop held over alleged bribery, sexual harassment.”

The first lady was driving alone at 1.15am when she was stopped at the roadblock. The police said she was driving beyond the speed limit. According to her, the police officer said the matter could be settled on the spot. She then offered RM15 and the officer agreed to take that sum as “settlement”.

Money exchanged hand. The officer than allegedly told her that she was sexy. He allegedly asked her to lift her t-shirt and pull up her skirts. She immediately drove off.

But not before she performed her side of the agreed bargain. She paid him the 15 bucks and drove off.

Next was a nightclub singer about 30 minutes later. The same thing happened. This time the lady gave RM20. The same officer allegedly made similar advances. The lady also paid him and drove off.

It was reported that the two women were “riled over the incidents.”

The report, however, does not specify whether the two ladies were “riled” over the alleged sexual harassment and the fact that the officer had allegedly asked them for money or whether both of them were only “riled” over the alleged sexual harassment alone.