(From second left) The three suspects collared for alleged extortion.
SIBU: A female police volunteer reserve (PVR) unit member and two police constables were arrested around midnight on Sunday for allegedly extorting RM500 from five foreigners.
Sibu deputy police chief Supt Martin Koo, when contacted yesterday, said the case was being investigated under Section 384 of the Penal Code.
The penalty upon conviction is imprisonment for a maximum of 10 years, with fine or whipping, or any two such punishments.
Police, who seized a handphone and cash from each suspect, yesterday applied for the suspects to be remanded for three days.
The incident happened at about 9.30pm on Saturday when four Filipinas and a Filipino, aged between 22 and 33, were on an express bus from Sibu to Brunei to renew their work permits.
When the bus reached Mile 12, Old Oya Road, at about 10.15pm, the three suspects was said to have stopped the bus, purportedly for spot checking.
It was learnt that they asked the five foreigners to get out from the bus and then seized their passports. There were other passengers in the bus.
The trio allegedly demanded each of them give them RM100 in exchange for their passports. The five capitulated.
Upon receiving the money, they returned the passports to their victims and allowed them to continue their journey.
Later, when the foreigners narrated the incident to their employer, the latter lodged a police report.