KUCHING: Police raids and searches of hotel rooms without warrants in the wee hours are being carried out according to the provisions of the law.
Sarawak Deputy Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said there is no need for a warrant under Section 62 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
“It states that any police officer with the rank of inspector or higher is allowed to search any premises without the need for a warrant,” he said.
He told this to the New Sarawak Tribune when asked to comment on Sarawak Central Region Hotel Association chairman Loh Leh Chai’s statement that the police were carrying out raids and searches at hotels without uniforms, warrants, or being accompanied by female officers, especially in Sibu and Kapit.
In regards to the wearing of uniforms by the raiding team, Mancha said it is not mandatory (for them to wear uniforms).
“If they are wearing plain clothes, they should introduce themselves by showing the authority card.
“Nonetheless, it is better if one of the members of the raid team is in uniform,” he said.
As for the issue of female officers in the raiding team, Mancha said if it (raid) involves the inspection of female residents, then female police officers or members need to be included in the team.
“Under Section 19 (2) of the CPC, when a woman (at the premises) is required to be examined, it must be examined by another woman with an emphasis on modesty,” he said.
Loh, in his statement on Jan 5, said the association is prepared to assist the authorities in eradicating illegal activities in hotel rooms.
However, it wants a proper standard operating procedure (SOP) on raids or searches by government departments or agencies so that it will not affect the recovery of the hotel industry.
“The movement control orders (MCOs) had hit us hard. After the lifting of the MCOs last year, business is getting back to normal but very slowly,” he said.
