An auditor, Chong Yaw Huei, claims that he was given a runaround before being made to pay RM250 to a policeman to secure the release of his stolen car last month.

Chong, 31, made the allegations during a press conference yesterday, organised by DAP NGO bureau chief Ronnie Liu in Petaling Jaya.

He said that he lost his two-year-old Proton Wira that was parked outside his home in Paramount Garden, Petaling Jaya on May 4 and promptly lodged a police report, at the Sea Park police station.

On May 17, an insurance officer informed Chong that his car has been found and was presently at the Sea Park police station.

"I went to the station with an (insurance claims) adjuster and a mechanic from the towing company, but the sergeant refused to release my car or negotiate with me," said Chong.

Car stripped-bare

The mechanic then offered to pay the sergeant RM100, which was turned down.

Contacted yesterday, the mechanic said that it was "normal" for investigating officers to receive between RM50 to RM100 before releasing stolen cars.

"I don't know why that sergeant did not want the money, he told me 'saya bukan kuli, saya IO' (I am not a labourer, I am the investigating officer), maybe he wanted more," said the mechanic.

A disgruntled Chong then came back to the police station on May 19 with another mechanic who spoke to the sergeant through the telephone and agreed to settle the matter for RM250.

The money was paid to another officer and Chong received an official letter proving that transfer of the car was complete.

ACA report lodged

Asked if he would be pursuing the matter, Chong said that he intends to lodge a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).

According to police documents obtained by Chong, the car was found on May 11 in Kota Damansara by police personnel on patrol.

The policeman later took the car to the Sea Park police station after realising that it was stolen. He also lodged a police report at the station stating that the car was stripped bare of parts when it was found.

Several calls to Sea Park police station for comments today went unanswered.

Speaking later, Liu urged the public to call the the ACA's hotline (1800-88-8844) when they face the situation of being coerced to give bribes.