Anti-Crime watchdog Sanjeevan arrested for alleged extortion (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: Anti-crime watchdog leader, Datuk R. Sri Sanjeevan was arrested by police yesterday for allegedly extorting cash from an illegal 4D gaming syndicate in Seremban.
Federal police nabbed him late on Wednesday for allegedly demanding "protection money" of RM25,000.
Sanjeevan, 32, who is chairman of myWatch, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which claims to be an anti-crime watchdog had allegedly threatened to expose the syndicate through the social media if the syndicate did not meet his demands.
Fearing for his personal safety and that of his family, a member of the syndicate who was contacted by the suspect lodged a police report on Monday before agreeing to pay off the sum.
At 10.45pm on Wednesday, the syndicate member and the suspect met at the Nilai toll plaza of the Kuala Lumpur-Seremban highway.
Soon after the syndicate member allegedly handed the cash to the suspect by placing it on the back seat of the suspect's car, a police team from the federal anti-vice, gaming and secret society (D7) that had staked out the area moved in and arrested Sanjeevan.
The police team seized the RM25,000 and on checking the suspect's car, they found another RM16,000.
Police also detained the suspect's driver, an Indian national whose work permit had expired.
Also seized in the raid was the suspect's car, a Toyota Vellfire and five cellphones.
Investigators learnt it was not the first time the suspect who is married had allegedly extorted from the complainant.
Sources revealed that police will also take action against the complainant for operating illegal 4D gaming activities.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar who confirmed the arrest said investigations on the man was underway.
Federal police CID director Commissioner Datuk Mohmad Salleh said the suspect will be probed by Bukit Aman.
Mohmad urged those who have had similar encounters of being extorted by the suspect to lodge police reports and assist investigators in the probe.
It is learnt that three others who were allegedly extorted by the suspect came forward today to lodge police reports and investigators are expecting more to show up.
Today, the Seremban Lower Courts assistant registrar Nor Anida Norhamdan issued a a two-day remand order on Sanjeevan at 10am.
It is believed that police may invoke the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) to detain the suspect further.
Two weeks earlier, the suspect was also in the news following a brush with the law over a non-criminal case.
He was hauled up by religious department officers and police at a luxury hotel in Seremban for alleged "khalwat" (close proximity) with a female police inspector in her 20's but let off after they were found to have not committed any wrongdoings.
Investigators also learnt that the suspect who received his Datukship from the Pahang palace had allegedly made similar demands to other syndicates operating illegal businesses such as gaming machine outlets and vice centres in at least five states.
In July 2013, Sanjeevan was shot and seriously wounded by an unidentified gunman in Bahau, Negri Sembilan and remained in a coma for 35 days.
He recovered and claimed he will quit his anti-crime crusade but months later he resumed.
In 2014, Sanjeevan spend RM340,000 to obtain two coveted number plates, BMW 8 and BMW 11, for RM175k and RM165k respectively.