Disgraced Westenburg cop slammed with another corruption charge

POLOKWANE – A Warrant Officer who was convicted for corruption on September 22, has been served with a summons to appear in court again for a separate case.

A statement by Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Limpopo spokesperson Capt Matimba Maluleke said the officer, who was attached to the Westenburg detectives, was served with the summons on Thursday (November 4).

“The suspect was investigating a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm against four accused persons in 2015. It is alleged that the former cop promised to release the four accused on R500 bail each and an amount of R2 000 was subsequently paid to him,” Maluleke explained.

He added that the charges against the four accused were later withdrawn by the court. “They claimed their bail money and were surprised to learn that the investigating officer released them on a warning, and therefore no money for bail was required.”

Maluleke said the matter was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation Unit. “An investigation was instituted against the suspect until he was served with summons to appear in the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on November 30.”

The former officer is yet to be sentenced in the matter where he extorted money from a person who was arrested for dealing in drugs in order to make his docket disappear.

According to earlier reports the complainant had previously paid R6 000 but the officer pestered and demanded more money. The matter was reported to the Hawks and he was arrested in Grobler Street on October 13 after receiving another R5 900 gratification from the complainant.