2 cops charged after they allegedly took restitution money from suspects

SINGAPORE – Two policemen were charged on Friday with criminal breach of trust after they allegedly took restitution money from suspects they were investigating.

One of the officers, Mohamed Mohamed Jalil, 53, was handed four charges over offences allegedly committed from 2013 to 2017.

Each charge involved alleged sums of between $9,000 and $13,000. His purported offences were related to a case under his charge in 2012.

Mohamed was arrested on July 13, 2020, and suspended three days later.

He is expected to plead guilty on Sept 22.

The other officer, Mohamad Danial Mohamad Nazali, 34, was also handed multiple charges on Friday, including 23 counts of criminal breach of trust.

He allegedly made off with cash and items at places including Bedok Police Divisional Headquarters between 2017 and 2020.

Each charge against Danial involved up to more than $17,000 in cash.

Danial is also accused of misappropriating items such as ez-link cards, a pair of earrings, a red handbag and a pink dress.

The police said on Friday that while investigating multiple cases under Danial’s charge, they found he had allegedly misappropriated restitution money collected from suspects and proceeds of crime seized for forfeiture to the State.

He also allegedly forged acknowledgement receipts on multiple occasions, misleading his supervisor into thinking that restitution processes had been followed.

Danial was arrested on Oct 17, 2020, and suspended five days later.

The police added that Danial was moonlighting as a taxi driver during his suspension.

He is also said to have evaded parking charges on multiple occasions between Nov 3, 2021 and Feb 18, 2022.

The police said they will take internal disciplinary action against him for moonlighting while suspended, following the conclusion of his criminal cases.

Danial’s case has been adjourned to Sept 8.

The police statement and court documents did not disclose the alleged offenders’ ranks.

The police said they regularly conduct case audits, with supervisors notified when lapses are detected.

The statement added that police officers are expected to uphold the law and maintain the highest standards of conduct and integrity, and that a firm stance is taken against officers who are found to have been involved in any wrongdoing, including charging them in court.

The police added that they will review any outstanding compensation matters once the officers’ cases have concluded and contact the victims accordingly.

For each charge of criminal breach of trust by a public servant, an offender can either be jailed for life or jailed for up to 20 years, and fined.