Apr 21, 2011
Cops jailed for trying to claim $1,000 found at polytechnic
By Khushwant Singh
Abdul Aziz Abdul Majid (L), from the Bedok police division, had also logged onto the police database unlawfully. He was jailed a total of 10 months. His accomplice, fellow sergeant Nazir Ali Khan, 37, was jailed four months. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
TWO police sergeants who conspired to get their hands on a $1,000 wad of cash found at Nanyang Polytechnic in April 2008 were jailed on Thursday for attempting to cheat and providing false information. Abdul Aziz Abdul Majid, from the Bedok police division, had also logged onto the police database unlawfully.
He was jailed a total of 10 months. His accomplice, fellow sergeant Nazir Ali Khan, 37, was jailed four months.
In passing sentence, District Judge Jill Tan said that while it was inexcusable to cheat another person, it was disgraceful for the two sergeants to try to cheat another officer and get hold of the cash. Both men are appealing against the conviction and sentence.
During the three-week trial, the court heard that Abdul Aziz was in financial difficulties when he went into the police database in April 2008 and discovered the Clementi division was holding $1,000 in its lost-and-found section.
The 32-year-old then contacted Nazir and devised a plan to claim the cash for themselves. On April 4, he posed as a vending machine technician who had lost $1,000 three days earlier, and visited the Clementi police station. He lied that Nazir had informed him that the money had been found and was at the Clementi police division.
The cash was never handed over and, in the ensuing investigation, Nazir was pulled up for an interview and told investigators that Abdul Aziz had lost $1,000 either at Nanyang Polytechnic or at Yio Chu Kang MRT station. He had merely called the Clementi police division to help his friend recover the money.
Both Abdul Aziz and Nazir have been suspended from their duties.
