IGP denies soliciting bribe from Papagomo

(The Star) – The nation’s top cop (pic) has denied a circulating WhatsApp conversation released by a group claiming to be linked to embattled Umno blogger Papagomo, in which he purportedly solicited a RM20,000 bribe.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said that an investigation has begun into the Facebook page Papagomo Original, which allegedly released what appeared to be a screen capture of a conversation between the blogger and Khalid.

Khalid, in the purported conversation, asked for a RM20,000 bribe to “settle” the blogger’s case after he was arrested last Tuesday over his alleged involvement in the Low Yat Plaza brawl.

Papagomo, whose real name is Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, was released from police custody after his bail ended on Friday.

“A report has been lodged to facilitate investigations,” Khalid told The Star but clarified that Papagomo’s lawyer Ahmad Shuaib Ismail also made a report saying the page does not belong to the blogger.

The page also posted rumours of alleged meetings between Malay non-governmental organisations and plans for a massive armed brawl in Low Yat on Saturday.

It sprung online after Papagomo’s arrest.

Bukit Aman has chided the page for spreading false information with “the intention of destroying harmony and peace” and called on Malaysians to not let its messages go viral online.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Shuaib has also distanced his client from the page, saying that Papagomo could not have been updating it while he was in custody.

Papagomo had allegedly posted a picture of an injured Malay robbery victim on his social media, claiming he was a victim of the Low Yat Plaza brawl.

Police arrested him soon after for allegedly fanning racial tensions.