The police have launched an investigation into more than a dozen officers suspected of helping a fugitive to fake his own death and flee the country, reports said today.

Michael Soosai is believed to have been hiding in India since faking his death two years ago to escape 17 criminal charges dating back 20 years, including one of murder.

The Star newspaper said the officers, including a senior official, had been hauled in by an investigating team following disclosures on the Internet of their identity and details of how they allegedly benefited from the plot.

"We are aware of Soosai and the website ," Deputy Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times newspaper. "This is a serious matter."

A special police task force was formed soon after news that Soosai was still alive emerged in media reports in April.

After a month-long investigation, three men and Soosai's wife, S Kumari, were charged in court with forgery and cheating.

The Soosai saga erupted again when he allegedly murdered Malaysian lorry driver N. Subramaniam in India last December over a family feud. It was reported that Soosai's daughter had eloped with Subramaniam's son.

Subramaniam's wife S Pallipillamah told Malaysian police that Soosai had contacted her twice since her husband's death, prompting them to reopen the case and seek Interpol assistance in tracking him down in India.