Approximately 23 members of Flushing’s 109th Precinct are being investigated for alleged ties to a bribery racket involving local karaoke clubs, it was reported on Tuesday morning.
The probe is related to the arrest of two 109th Precinct Detective Squad members last December who allegedly traded inside information about surprise inspections with local karaoke club owners in exchange for cash payments, according to DNAInfo.
Citing confidential information obtained from the NYPD, the report noted that two captains, three lieutenants, three sergeants, three detectives and 12 police officers are involved in the probe. Their names were not revealed because no charges have been filed against any of them at the time of the report.
Six officers, however, have already been placed on modified duty as a result of the probe, and one officer is cooperating with investigators, DNAinfo reported. That officer reportedly provided detectives with secret recordings of conversations among his colleagues.
Neither the NYPD nor the Queens District Attorney’s office, which originally filed the charges last December, provided comment on the ongoing investigation.
As previously reported on QNS, Lt. Robert Sung and Det. Yatyu Yam were charged following a two-year investigation by the Queens District Attorney’s office and the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau. They were subsequently suspended without pay.
According to the charges, Sung and Yam allegedly struck deals with three local club owners to tip them off regarding impending police inspections in exchange for cash payments and other favors. When raids occurred at two locations, officers were instructed to let the patrons go or, rather than make arrests, issue desk appearance tickets to individuals.
