Potchefstroom patrol officer sentenced to imprisonment for taking bribes
A highway patrol officer has landed in hot water and finally behind bars, after he was reported for taking bribes and the Hawks’ investigation secured a conviction in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court this week.
Zahid Bhayat, a Potchefstroom based Highway Patrol officer was convicted and sent to prison for soliciting bribes from motorists on the N12 between Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp, in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
It was alleged that Bhayat would target luxury vehicles and accuse the drivers of exceeding the speed limit. He would then threaten to arrest them for the speed violation, but subsequently demand a payment of no less than R2000 to cancel the speed reading.
An investigation was launched by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit following a complaint that was received.
Bhayat was arrested in December 2017 and later released on R2 000 bail pending the outcome of his court case.
On Thursday, he was sentenced to four years imprisonment, of which half was suspended for five years, meaning that Bhayat received an effective two years behind bars.
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