Far
from offering a waterproof theory, Inspector-General of Police Khalid
Abu Bakar has claimed that the guns missing from the police force may
have fallen into the sea.
Khalid said each weapon comes with an identification code and the police have not linked these guns with any criminal activity to date.
"Of the 37 missing guns, ballistics reports show that none of them have been used by criminals," he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.
"The missing guns may not have fallen into the hands of criminals but could have fallen into the sea from boats... and the weapons could not be recovered."
While Khalid stated that only 37 firearms were missing, the Auditor-General's Report 2012 placed the figure at 44.
The report also reveals that the police lost 156 pairs of handcuffs and 29 vehicles between 2010 and 2012, worth a total of RM1.33 million.
A Bukit Aman source, when contacted by Malaysiakini, explained that the difference in the number of missing firearms stated by Khalid was because seven have since been recovered.
Internal probe carried out
Khalid explained that an internal inquiry had been held on the missing items, and that 92 cases have been resolved.
Another 118 cases are stilll being investigated, he said.
Those responsible for losing the firearms were told to pay for them and so far RM197,984 had been collected, he said.
"(The police force) views this issue seriously. We concede that there are weaknesses that must be fixed and we are in the process of studying this," Khalid added.
Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamid, who was also at the press conference, said his ministry has given the auditor-general an explanation on the issue.
However, Zahid said, the explanation was not included in the report at the time of printing.
Khalid said each weapon comes with an identification code and the police have not linked these guns with any criminal activity to date.
"Of the 37 missing guns, ballistics reports show that none of them have been used by criminals," he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.
"The missing guns may not have fallen into the hands of criminals but could have fallen into the sea from boats... and the weapons could not be recovered."
While Khalid stated that only 37 firearms were missing, the Auditor-General's Report 2012 placed the figure at 44.
The report also reveals that the police lost 156 pairs of handcuffs and 29 vehicles between 2010 and 2012, worth a total of RM1.33 million.
A Bukit Aman source, when contacted by Malaysiakini, explained that the difference in the number of missing firearms stated by Khalid was because seven have since been recovered.
Internal probe carried out
Khalid explained that an internal inquiry had been held on the missing items, and that 92 cases have been resolved.
Another 118 cases are stilll being investigated, he said.
Those responsible for losing the firearms were told to pay for them and so far RM197,984 had been collected, he said.
"(The police force) views this issue seriously. We concede that there are weaknesses that must be fixed and we are in the process of studying this," Khalid added.
Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamid, who was also at the press conference, said his ministry has given the auditor-general an explanation on the issue.
However, Zahid said, the explanation was not included in the report at the time of printing.
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