Germiston Hawks arrest police officer for extortion and corruption
The matter was referred to the Hawks for further investigation, which resulted in a warrant of arrest being issued for Tshabalala.
The Germiston-based Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team arrested 37-year-old Const Soja Tshabalala for extortion and corruption allegations on March 25.
Tshabalala subsequently appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on the same day. Hawks spokesperson Capt Ndivhuwo Mulamu said it was alleged Tshabalala, from the Vaalrand Flying Squad, drove a police-marked vehicle and was in uniform with three unknown civilians who pretended to be Sars officials on March 2, 2018.
“The group targeted a bed and breakfast in Randburg, where they demanded R60 000 from the owner. “They threatened to arrest him for failing to comply with the tax regulations and accused him of operating a brothel.”
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Mulamu said they allegedly threatened to close down the business if the owner did not give in to their demands. “The reluctant owner was allegedly forced to open his financial account on a laptop, where R35 000 was transferred into one of the suspects’ bank account.”
The matter was referred to the Hawks for further investigation, which resulted in a warrant of arrest being issued for Tshabalala, who consequently handed himself in at the Hawks offices.
“The investigation to this case is ongoing and the rest of the suspects will soon be accounted for. “Tshabalala was remanded in custody and the matter was postponed to March 30 for a formal bail application and further investigation,” said the Hawks spokesperson.
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za , and Lebogang Sekgwama lebogangs@caxton.co.za.
