A former Vehicle Identification and Safeguarding (Vis) police officer Abram Mashila Mtsweni (52) was re-arrested by members of the Middelburg Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) Serious Corruption Investigation Unit in Belfast on Friday.

According to Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, Motsweni worked for the Vis Unit in Ermelo in 2016 when he was approached by a victim for assistance with vehicle clearance.

“The accused constantly demanded money from the victim, alleging that it was for the vehicle clearance, which was never processed. Consequently, the victim suffered a loss of about R16 000.”

The matter was reported to the police and later transferred to the Hawks for further investigation.

“Mtsweni was arrested, charged with corruption and later released on bail. The accused absconded from court.”

Sekgotodi explains that a warrant of arrest was then issued.

“Subsequent to his re-arrest and court appearance, he was released on R1 000 bail and the case was postponed for further investigation.”

The Hawks encourages community members to report all illegal activities around their area by contacting the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111, or by sending information via the MySAPS app.