KOTA BARU: A man, believed to be a human trafficking agent, was arrested when he tried to bribe a policeman with RM50,000 as an inducement not to take action against him and 19 others in an operation on Saturday.
The suspect was being brought to a police station here when he offered the money to a General Operations Force (GOF) member.
The man was detained by the GOF member for bringing in 16 illegal immigrants into the country. Also arrested in the operation was three tekong darat ( the name given to locals who harbour illegal immigrants).
GOF Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the 20 were travelling in three vehicles at two locations here.
"Acting on public tip-offs, we managed to trace the three vehicles which were used to transport illegal immigrants.
"After stopping the vehicles at Jalan Sri Cemerlang and near the Sultan Ismail Petra airport in Pengkalan Chepa, we found 16 illegal immigrants including children inside the vehicles.
"Three locals who were the tekong darat and an agent, also local, were then arrested.
"While on their way to the police station, one of the locals tried to bribe the policeman with RM50,000 so that action would not be taken against them," he added.
He said the GOF member seized the three cars, eight units of handphones and the RM50,000 cash. The seizure was valued at about RM255,700.
The four locals and the illegal immigrants have been handed over to Kota Baru police for further action.