Cops implicated in the urine-tampering case are being dealt with, says Johor police chief

BATU PAHAT: The police have also initiated their clean-up in the wake of a urine-tampering controversy in the state, says the Johor police chief.

Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said disciplinary investigation papers have also been opened on those implicated.

“Those involved were being transferred to different departments and stations until the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) completed its investigation,” he said when asked to comment on the MACC’s ongoing investigation after the arrest of a pathologist and 33 narcotics policemen in Johor connected to a urine-tampering case since last year.

He said this in a press conference after officiating the Sri Gading police station on Wednesday (Jan 10).

Comm Kamarul Zaman, who declined to elaborate on where the personnel were sent, just said some were still in service while others have since retired.

The police clean-up in the wake of the state health department carrying out its own purge by transferring 10 personnel from the Sultanah Aminah Hospital’s pathology department.

When asked if other actions had been taken against the policemen, he said they would wait for MACC to complete its investigation.

“The MACC’s investigation is still ongoing.

“We have been in close contact with the department regarding this case and have been giving them our full cooperation,” he said.

The Star had earlier quoted Johor health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon that 10 pathologists have been transferred out of Johor in a sweeping shakeup following the urine-tampering controversy in the state.

He said that in addition to the reshuffling of pathologists, the state has also reinforced all standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to handling urine samples.

Ling also noted that the Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi had been briefed about the case.

The Star had previously reported that a pathologist was at the centre of an extensive network involved in providing tampered urine samples in substance abuse cases for a fee between RM500 and RM1,500.

Caught in the web were 33 narcotics policemen of various ranks – an assistant superintendent, eight inspectors, 22 sergeants, a corporal and a lance corporal – from almost all of Johor’s 13 police districts.

One source said the 33 policemen were arrested in stages from June to September last year, and all have been released under MACC bail.

At the event, Comm Kamarul said that the Sri Gading police station has been operating since 2008 to serve the public here.

“With the rapid growth of Sri Gading, there is no doubt that there is a vital need for a police station to ensure public safety,” he said, adding that there are now 11 police personnel in the police station.