The four Barberton police officers arrested for allegedly stealing R1.6m from a zama zama ‘paymaster’ were remanded in custody until their bail application on Tuesday.

Danisile Precious Mahlangu (47), Mandla Saky Ndlovu (49), Bongani Dlamini (40) and Doctor Zulu (42) appeared in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of theft and defeating the ends of justice.

It is alleged that on Thursday they raided a house belonging to a man believed to be connected to illegal miners where they found R1.8m in a wardrobe.

The homeowner was not present during the raid and his son was arrested and taken to the police station.

Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi said the suspects deviated from standard procedure by not charging the person they arrested and not booking in the money they confiscated.

Instead, she said, they disappeared for five hours. Crime intelligence was called in after the son opened a case of theft against the four police officers.

They were called to return to the station.

“On their return, the officers only produced an amount of R200 000, which they alleged was all that had been found at the paymaster’s house,” said Sekgotodi.

The four cops were arrested and detained at the Nelspruit Police Station.

Sekgotodi told Mpumalanga News that the son was released. However, police will be looking into where the money came from.

“Investigations into the R1.8m being kept in a wardrobe are under way, because that’s tantamount to money laundering,” she said.