A Cape Town police officer has been arrested for allegedly microwaving the blood samples of drunken driving suspects at a police station, Western Cape police said on Thursday.

The cop, 45, was arrested when he reported for duty at the Pinelands police station on Thursday morning, deputy provincial commissioner of crime detection Jeremy Vearey said.

“Before the blood reaches the department of health, it is tampered with… it is cooked, in other words microwaved, which results in it being thickened,” he said.

“If it is thickened, it is rendered entirely non-viable for the forensic analysis which would require adequate scientific analysis of blood alcohol content.”

Detectives spent months monitoring various blood samples to identify and arrest the suspect.

He would appear in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court on Friday for corruption.

Vearey said the police should only interact with drunken driving suspects to place them in a cell and facilitate taking blood.

“We are technically finished with you [after that]. There is no reason to expect any engagement from us which offers some services to you.”

Two weeks ago a Kraaifontein sector commander was arrested for allegedly extorting money from a Somali spaza shop owner.

Vearey said they monitored the officer for a long time and eventually caught him “red-handed” with the money he had apparently collected.

If people received a dodgy call or offer from a police officer, they should phone the anti-corruption line on 021 918 3312 during office hours.

“Even if you have already paid a bribe, it will hold you in good stead if you make an effort to expose your own complicity,” Vearey said.

“Rather do it than wait for us to arrest you with the police officer and put you in the same cell.” News24