Malaysian authorities arrest 12 police officers over alleged crypto extortion: report

Malaysian authorities in Selangor arrested 12 police officers following a complaint filed on February 6 by one of eight Chinese nationals who were allegedly victims of a midnight raid. The victims claimed officers stormed a bungalow in Kajang, confiscated electronics, and forced a transfer of about 200,000 ringgit ($51,000) in cryptocurrency. Selangor police chief Shazeli Kahar confirmed the arrests and stated the case is being treated as a gang robbery involving foreign nationals' cryptocurrency, emphasizing that the police contingent will not tolerate criminal activities.

This incident occurs amid heightened scrutiny on corruption in Malaysia. The country's king, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, recently warned that corrupt individuals across government agencies, including the police, are under his surveillance. Furthermore, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration has intensified anti-corruption efforts since 2022, leading to charges against several senior public figures.

(Source：The Block)