Secunda policemen in court for alleged extortion and other crimes

Two police officials, a sergeant and a constable, appeared in the Evander Magistrate’s Court on Monday, May 12, facing multiple criminal charges including corruption, assault, theft, kidnapping, extortion and defeating the ends of justice.

The Mpumalanga Hawks’ spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, said these criminal activities were committed within a space of two days.

Nkosi said the two were officially on duty when they stopped and searched a truck on the N17 road outside Leslie on October 9, 2023, at about 04:20. “The two members allegedly assaulted the truck driver and demanded gratification of R5 000 for his release. They allegedly instructed the truck driver to log into his phone banking app. He was further instructed to contact his employer and source the required amount. The money was deposited and he only managed to withdraw R4 050. Four bags of dagga were found in the vehicle and seized by the members,” he said.

Nkosi said the driver went to the police station the following day to look for the two officials with an intention to request R1 000 back as the money deposited by his employer was going to be deducted from his salary.

“He found the police members who then allegedly assaulted, handcuffed, instructed him to get into a police vehicle and was driven to a secluded area on the N17 road by the two. He was left guarded by one officer when the other drove back to the station where he loaded two of the four bags of dagga that were seized into the police vehicle and drove back again to fetch the two.”

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Nkosi said the men, including the driver, came back to the station and were interrogated, leading to an investigation.

The Leslie SAPS picked up on the incident and the Mpumalanga Hawks in Secunda was informed, and the case docket was registered for further investigation.

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The Hawks managed to secure the warrant for their appearance in court. The warning was served to both members on April 16 for their first court appearance on Monday.

The matter was postponed to July 27. Both members were warned by the court to appear in person for their next court date.

The police officers’ names have been provided by the Mpumalanga Hawks, however, will not be published as they face a charge of extortion.