A sergeant and captain stationed with the Hawks were arrested after they allegedly tried to get someone to pay R50 000 to have an investigation docket destroyed.

They were arrested by the Mthatha-based Serious Corruption Investigation and Serious Organised Crime Investigation of the Hawks during an undercover operation on Thursday.

According to the police, a man received a call in July from the suspect who introduced himself as a captain with the Hawks in Gauteng. He asked to meet with the man because a case was opened against his company by the Department of Labour.

The man received another call from the same person the following month. This time he demanded R400 000 which the complainant indicated he did not have.

In September the man received a third call, this time instructing him to bring R50 000 and meet his callers in Mthatha so the docket about the investigation into his company could be destroyed.

The complainant reported the matter to the Hawks and an undercover operation was conducted and the suspects were arrested immediately after the transaction was made.

Police claim that R10 000 was found in the suspects’ possession.

The two appeared in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court yesterday on corruption charges.

The Eastern Cape Hawks Head Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya expressed his satisfaction with the swift response of the joint operation.

“Such conduct by our own bring the name of the Hawks into disrepute,” he said, adding that the Hawks will continue to act without favour, fear or prejudice. – SAnews.gov.za