Two arrested as IPID closes in on alleged R15m precious stones theft syndicate
The suspects comprise three EMPD members, one JMPD member, one Gauteng Traffic Police officer, and a businessman who allegedly posed as a police officer during the raid and seizure of the precious stones.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), assisted by members of the Tactical Response Team (TRT), arrested two suspects over the weekend as part of its investigation into the alleged unlawful seizure and theft of precious stones from a private residence in Killarney, Johannesburg, in 2023.
According to IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping, the investigation initially identified six suspects. One of the suspects has since died.
The suspects comprise three members of the EMPD, one member of the JMPD, one member of the Gauteng Traffic Police, and a businessman who allegedly posed as a police officer during the raid and seizure of the precious stones.
Suping said IPID had obtained three warrants of arrest and has now executed two of them. The first suspect was arrested on Friday night, while the second handed himself over at the Edenvale Police Station shortly after 18:00 on July 5.
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IPID said the suspects allegedly conducted an unlawful search and raid at a residence in Killarney without a search warrant and seized precious stones valued at just under R15m.
According to IPID, the suspects are expected to face corruption charges.
The directorate alleges that the EMPD officers conducted an investigation outside their jurisdiction and failed to register the seized exhibits in the SAPS occurrence book, as required.
Some of the seized precious stones were allegedly later found in the vehicle of an EMPD official.
IPID further noted that officials from the Gauteng Traffic Police are mandated to enforce traffic legislation and do not conduct criminal investigations, while the implicated JMPD member is attached to the VIP Protection Unit, which also has no investigative mandate.
The suspects arrested at the weekend are expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court today, July 6.
Suping said IPID is continuing its search for the third suspect named in the arrest warrants. She added that the arrests of the remaining two living suspects are expected in the coming weeks as the investigation progresses.
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