Three KZN cops arrested for alleged corruption
Police say all the officers were arrested in two separate incidents where they had allegedly searched tuckshops, seized goods and money which was not handed in to the police.
The police amendment bill has been criticised for centralising power. Picture for illustration: Ashraf Hendricks / GroundUp
Three police officers in KwaZulu-Natal have been arrested for alleged corruption, the police said on Monday.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said in the early hours of Sunday morning, detectives from the provincial anti-corruption unit arrested two police officers in Chatsworth, Durban, for alleged corruption.
“It is alleged that on 7 June 2020, they entered a tuckshop in Moorton and demanded to search the premises. They seized cigarettes valued at R14,500 as well as R2,000 in cash before leaving the premises. The items seized were not handed in at the police station.
“The tuckshop owner reported the matter to police who immediately opened a case of robbery and handed over the investigation to the Provincial anti-Corruption Unit. This morning detectives arrested two Constables, aged 32 and 36 from SAPS Chatsworth. They are appearing at the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court today on corruption and robbery charges,” said Naicker.
Naicker said the anti-corruption unit was also investigating another case where a police constable was arrested on 12 June in the Mpumalanga policing precinct.
“On 12 June 2020, four men approached a tuckshop owner in Ntshongweni and accused him of selling cigarettes. They demanded cash from him and R500 was handed over to them. They then proceeded to another tuckshop in the area where members of the community members confronted them.
“The suspects abandoned their motor vehicle and fled on foot however, one of them was apprehended by the community and handed over to Mpumalanga police. Charges of extortion and attempted murder were opened at the Mpumalanga police station and the docket was handed over to the provincial anti-corruption unit. The 26-year-old constable from Westville SAPS is appearing in the Camperdown Magistrates Court today,” Naicker said.
KZN police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula welcomed the arrests and commended citizens for taking a stand to support police management in ridding the police service of corrupt elements.
“When I arrived in this province I made a call to citizens in this province not to fall into the trap of colluding with corrupt police officers. I am so pleased that citizens have heeded my call and are regularly arriving at our police stations to open cases against corrupt police officers.
“I am positive that we can win this war if citizens continue to remain steadfast in their commitment to expose corrupt police officers to police management and not to turn a blind eye to criminality in their neighbourhoods,” said Jula.
(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu)
For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.
