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Firearms trading case is probed

Investigations against a police captain are continuing.

NELSPRUIT – Intense investigation into the case of a 57-year-old police official who was arrested in connection with trading in firearms, corruption and theft is continuing.

Capt Godfrey Lubisi, who had served as a police officer for 37 years, appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court last week and was granted R5 000 bail and is expected to appear again on September 27.

The provincial police spokesman,

Lt Col Leonard Hlathi, said 11 unaccounted for firearms were found by the investigating team in this case.

“Police are still verifying as to whether the officer knows anything about these firearms,” said Hlathi.

Lubisi was arrested on August 20 in full view of his colleagues and journalists at his office where he worked as a designated firearm officer.

His arrest came after members of the police received information about his activities and investigations against him started about a year ago.

It is alleged that Lubisi unlawfully sold two firearms which were voluntarily handed in for destruction.

The provincial commissioner,

Lt Gen Thulani Ntobela expressed his disappointment about Lubisi who had three years to go before going on pension.

Though Lubisi is standing accused and granted bail by the criminal court of law, the internal investigation is yet to unfold and Ntobela will pronounce himself on this matter.

“Criminal and corrupt police officials are not welcome in the force,” said Ntobela.

In another matter, a senior police officer, two constables and four other men appeared in the Carolina Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of corruption and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Their arrest follows investigations into a robbery case, whereby a group of six villains violently attacked a family together with a relative who was visiting them. They locked up the three children and the suspects demanded R40 000 for their release. The incident happened in Carolina on July 19.

Further investigations into the matter linked the senior official Lt Col Johannes van der Walt (42) to the case.

Court outcomes for Van der Walt,

Const David Mathew Morgan (32) and Const Vhonani Mulaudzi (32) from Lenasia Police Station together with their co-accused Ruksana Bhanu Mahommed (44), Shujauddin Sayed (44), Zaine Mohamed (50) and Razia Ahmed Ismail (43) were not known at the time of going to print.

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