The policemen gambling and drinking ketum at the food stall with their patrol cars parked nearby. — Picture by Malay Mail

PETALING JAYA, Oct 13 — Eight policemen, including five on their crime beat, were rounded up for drinking ‘ketum’ and gambling at a food stall in an open-air car park in broad daylight yesterday.

A source told Malay Mail the eight policemen, regulars at the food stall at Jalan PJS8/15 in Bandar Sunway, were arrested at about 2pm.

A lance corporal believed to be attached to the Sungai Way police station managed to escape.

“A senior colleague, who had seen the suspects gambling at the stall in the past, had advised them to get their act together and warned he would report them if they did it again,” the source said.

The eight — two corporals, five lance corporals and a constable — were nabbed along with two other men believed to be friends of one of the policemen.

“Some of the men looked high when police moved in on them. What is shocking is they were brazenly drinking ketum and gambling in a heavily populated area,” the source said.

“There were other customers at the stall during the raid.”

Police are looking for the lance corporal who escaped.

Of the eight policemen, four were attached to the Petaling Jaya police headquarters, two from Sungai Way police station, the other two were attached to Subang Jaya and Ampang Jaya police headquarters.

“The suspect attached to Subang Jaya police headquarters was transferred to Petaling Jaya police headquarters in June, but has yet to report for duty,” he said.

All 10 suspects were brought to Sungai Way police station for further action.

Ketum water is made from boiling ketum leaves. Its tree is native to South-east Asia. Ketum is known to have opiate and stimulant properties.

The abuse of ketum is prohibited under Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952 which allows for a maximum fine of RM10,000, or jail up to four years, but offenders are reportedly only fined.