Police officers receive 10-year sentence for requesting bribe from suspect arrested at King Shaka Airport

Two police officers were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court this week for corruption and defeating the ends of justice relating to an arrest made at King Shaka International Airport in 2018, Northglen News reports.

The officers, Sergeant Musawenkosi Mabaso (48) and Sergeant Thulani Dlangalala (48), were arrested by Hawks members from Durban Serious Corruption Investigation.

Hawks spokesperson, Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo, explained the officers had asked for a bribe of R7 500 from the complainant.

“Mabaso and Dlangalala were tasked to pick up the suspect who was arrested at King Shaka International Airport in May 2018. Along the way, the two officers demanded a R7 000 cash in order to release the suspect for him to go home and come to court the following day.

“They were paid R4 500 and further demanded a balance of R3 000. Hawks members were immediately informed and an undercover operation was swiftly conducted. They were intercepted after collecting the balance and a search was conducted. Members found R7 500 cash that was taken from the complainant and they were subsequently arrested,” Mhlongo said.

The KwaZulu-Natal Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Provincial Head, Major General Leseja Senona welcomed the sentence.

“This is a very good lesson to those police officers who are abusing the authority and putting the name of the South African Police Service in disrepute. We are determined to clean up our own organisation and put all perpetrators where they belong,” he said.