Locals in court for allegedly shielding illegal immigrants
The pair were arrested by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team on March 16 and charged with corruption.
Two local men were charged with corruption and appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court, following their arrest on March 16 for allegedly shielding illegal immigrants in Mbombela.
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Robbie Booth (53) and Victor Welgemoed (35) were arrested by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team during an intelligence-driven operation, during
which Booth, a home affairs official, allegedly colluded with Welgemoed to shield 11 illegal Malawian immigrants from being deported to their country.
The arrest was effected as soon as money exchanged hands between the two on March 16 and they were then charged with corruption.
Booth and Welgemoed appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on March 17. Booth was granted R1 000 bail.
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The Mpumalanga NPA’s Monica Nyuswa said Welgemoed has a pending case of theft and assault, which he had allegedly committed after the corruption case was opened, and was not granted bail.
The pair appeared again in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on April 1. Welgemoed abandoned his bail application.
They are expected to appear in the magistrate’s court on May 27, pending further investigation.
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