Four police officials attached to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SCI) in Gauteng and Gauteng provincial SAPS were arrested with two civilians on charges including fraud and corruption.

All six suspects are expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court today, where they are facing charges of theft, possession of suspected stolen money, extortion and corruption.

The arrests were effected by members of the Hawks’ SCI team in Johannesburg.

Yesterday afternoon, the complainant in the matter alleged that he had received a phone call from one of his employees informing him that police officers were at his shop. It’s reported that the complainant instructed his employee to request the police to wait until he arrived.

However, shortly after the conversation between the complainant and his employee, the call was disconnected. The complainant then made his way to the shop, but it was closed.

He then went to Johannesburg Central Police Station, where he was informed that his employees were arrested for contravention of Section 9 of the Currency Act, Act 9 of 1933. The employee he had a conversation with was also arrested for interfering with police duties.

The arrest of the four police officials and two civilians came after the complainant reported the matter to the Hawks’ SCI. He alleged that the police officials took R900 000 from his shop while conducting their operations.

When following up on the information, the Hawks discovered that only 60 000 Unites States dollars and R130 000 was booked into the SAPS register as the amount recovered by the police, instead of booking the entire amount of R900 000.

It is further alleged that the suspect, who was at the shop to exchange the money in question, also tried to entice the police officials with R60 000, which was also booked in the SAPS register.

After conducting a preliminary investigation, the Hawks’ SCI followed up on the information and proceeded to Newtown, where they located the police officials involved in the alleged theft.

The alleged corrupt officials were found in several vehicles, which were searched, and a substantial amount of cash was found in one of the vehicles. As a result, the four police officials and two civilians were arrested on the scene.

Meanwhile, the other six suspects, who are charged with contravention of Section 9 of the Currency Act, will also appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court today.

“The Hawks remain resolute in their commitment to uproot corruption, even within the ranks of law enforcement. No one is above the law.

“The arrest of these officers is a clear demonstration that we will act decisively and without fear or favour to protect the integrity of the criminal justice system and restore public trust in the SAPS,” said the acting national dead of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Siphosihle Nkosi. – SAnews.gov.za

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