Stolen liquor and cash: 11 cops appear in Vereeniging court

An incident during the Covid-19 lockdown has lead to several arrests in connection with theft and corruption.

Eleven police officials appeared in the Vereeniging Regional Court on Tuesday facing charges including corruption, theft, extortion, defeating the ends of justice, and malicious damage to property.

Vaalweekblad reports these officials include senior officers from the Sedibeng District Office, as well as members from Evaton, Meyerton, and the Gauteng Highway Patrol.

The charges relate to a July 4, 2021, incident in Meyerton, where a Chinese national and his father were stopped by officers in an unmarked Ford double cab.

Accused of unlawfully selling liquor during the Covid-19 lockdown, the complainant’s vehicle was searched but no illegal items were found.

The complainant alleges he was taken to his liquor store, where more officers arrived, conducted a search, and confiscated liquor worth R600 000, along with R700 000 in cash.

The officers reportedly destroyed video camera equipment but failed to notice a backup system that captured their actions, despite allegedly breaking the system and stealing its hard drive.

The complainant and his father were allegedly handcuffed and later arrested on false bribery charges, with police claiming a bribe of R3 000 was offered.

After a probe by the Gauteng Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit, the matter was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who decided to prosecute.

Summonses were served in November 2024, and the accused were processed accordingly.

Notably, Constable Thabiso Pule Molefe, the son of former district commissioner Major Geneneral ZE Molefe, is implicated in this case. He and another accused person recently appeared in Springs on charges of kidnapping and extortion.

The other accused are Colonel MI Gulashe, Lieutenant Colonel PP Tshabalala, Constable ET Malala, Constable NH Radebe, Constable DM Logenberg, Constable GW Lekgowe, Constable WN Mtshali, Constable T Rabolila, Sergeant VD Bosch, and Sergeant NY Mphasane.

The case has been postponed to March 6 for further investigation.

Read original story on www.citizen.co.za

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Ruan de Ridder

A digital support specialist at Caxton Local Media, known for his contributions to the digital landscape. He has covered major stories, including the Moti kidnappings, and edits and curates news of national importance from over 50 Caxton Local News sites.
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