An off-duty police officer (59) was arrested for shoplifting in a Barberton supermarket on Friday, January 31.

According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Captain Mpho Nonyane-Mpe, at about 18:30 a security officer stationed at the main entrance of the supermarket was alerted to an incident by the store’s control room.

“Information indicated that a male customer had allegedly added extra bananas into a plastic bag after the item had already been weighed and priced. The customer was approached and questioned,” she explained.

ALSO READ: DoH investigating possible negligence at Matikwane Hospital near Hazyview

Mpho Nonyane-Mpe said the bananas were re-weighed, and the value exceeded the original weight reflected on the price label, amounting to a difference of R43.80.

“The suspect was detained and the matter reported to the police. An investigation is ongoing and police internal processes will also be instituted. The member will be subjected to the same legal processes as any other suspect,” she added.

He appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court today, February 2, on charges of shoplifting. At the time of publication, the outcome of the court proceedings had not been made available.