THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) nabbed 37 policemen from Johor for allegedly bribing a pathologist to tamper with urine samples of those detained for drug abuse, police said.

Bukit Aman Integrity and Standards Compliance Department director Azri Ahmad confirmed the arrests.

“MACC is investigating many senior officers and investigation officers from the narcotics department in the state,” he said.

“We have opened investigation papers for each arrest.”

Meanwhile, a MACC source told The Malaysian Insight that a total of 37 policemen were arrested in this operation, which began in February.

The source said the latest arrests over the last two days involved an assistant superintendent as well as two sergeants from Mersing, Johor Baru Utara and Kluang.

“The three were detained at the Johor MACC office when they turned up to provide their statements. They were later released on bail,” the source said.

The source said the arrests of the police officers came about after MACC detained the pathologist at a government hospital in Johor last February.

It was learnt that the pathologist had solicited and accepted bribes from suspects who were detained for drug abuse.

“The modus operandi was for the pathologist to tamper with their urine sample,” the source said, adding that the police officers had colluded with the pathologist to change the results of positive urine samples to negative.

“The offences were believed to have been committed between 2018 and 2022.” – August 30, 2023.