Four policemen, including an inspector, have been detained by the MACC in Lahad Datu for allegedly agreeing to accept or obtain bribes amounting to RM20,000.

Sabah MACC director Sazali Sabli said the 34-year-old police inspector was picked up last Monday following a report lodged by a loan shark to the commission.

He said the inspector was suspected to have received RM18,000 from the complainant three days earlier, as an inducement not to take action against the loan shark, and as monthly ‘protection’ payment.

The remaining RM2,000 was handed over to the police officer during a 'trap’ operation on the same day of his arrest, he added here today.

Sazali said the suspect was remanded for a week beginning yesterday, to facilitate investigations.

The MACC director said following the arrest of the inspector, three other policemen were picked up in Lahad Datu yesterday over their alleged involvement in the case.

One of the three suspects is a 29-year-old sergeant while the rest, aged 29 and 34, are corporal and lance corporal.

Sazali said the MACC would apply for a remand order on the three suspects at the Lahad Datu Court.

All the suspects are attached to the Lahad Datu police headquarters.

-- Bernama