Two Tshwane metro police officers are still to face suspension and disciplinary hearings before being criminally charged with corruption after they were caught soliciting bribes from motorists, the Tshwane metro police told Rekord.
This comes after the Justice Project South Africa (JPSA) raised concerns that the metro police officers, who were caught red-handed soliciting and accepting bribes, will only face internal disciplinary charges and not criminal charges.
“First we have to deal with the suspension issue and from there a date will be set for them to go to a hearing for them to face the charges that are brought against them. They will receive notices of intent to suspend and they have seven days to give the department reasons why they should not be suspended,” said the metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba.
An investigator of the Civilian and Internal Affairs Unit witnessed the two metro police officers accepting bribes last week on Luttig and Maltzan streets, Pretoria West. Upon inspection, a total of R390 was found on the officers. The officers were expected to face disciplinary proceedings, however, a criminal case has not yet been opened.
According to JPSA, the officers could face up to life imprisonment if their matter was to be heard before the High Court, 18 years if it was heard in a Regional Court, or five years if was heard in a Magistrate’s Court.
JPSA national chairman, Howard Dembovsky, said that internal disciplinary charges should in fact be considered to be pursued in addition to criminal charges, rather than the other way around.
“A clear message urgently needs to be sent to corrupt cops and in our opinion, the national prosecuting authority, department of justice and others should be sending this message to these people by prosecuting such matters in the High Court where the judiciary can hand down harsh sentences and make an example of these criminals with badges and guns who think it is okay to solicit bribes and engage in extortion,” said Dembovsky.
