Six east police arrested for stealing R30 000 at a roadblock
In total 12 police officers were arrested in three separate incidents for corruption, as well as contravening the lockdown regulations.
Six members attached to the Brooklyn and Silverton Police stations in Pretoria were arrested on Saturday for allegedly stealing money from a group of people passing through a roadblock.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo said members of the Mpumalanga Provincial Anti-Corruption unit received information that the officers had stolen over R30 000 in cash.
“According to reports, the members initially demanded a bribe of R100 after realising that the driver of a sedan and two passengers were not in the possession of the required documentation,” he said.
“The money was allegedly stolen after the sedan was searched at the roadblock.”
Naidoo said all six members were arrested after they were found in possession of the money. They were detained at a local police station.
In another incident, a police officer was detained after he held a gathering at the police barracks in Soshanguve.
In total 12 police members, including a reservist, were arrested in three separate incidents for their alleged involvement in the violation of the national disaster management regulations, as well as corruption, during this past weekend.
The third incident saw five officials, including a police reservist, attached to the Namahadi police station in the Free State, arrested for allegedly being part of a group drinking alcohol at a local tavern on Saturday.
“They initially escaped, however, they were arrested on Sunday as they reported for duty. Pictures of the members being arrested went viral, a moment that SAPS management is not proud of, but the arrests were indeed a necessary course of action,” said Naidoo.
He further said the 44-year-old tavern owner was also arrested on the same day for violating the regulations on the prohibition of the sale of liquor.
“All liquor was seized and the tavern was shut down.”
The police officials will be charged with defeating the ends of justice and failing to enforce and adhere to the national disaster management regulations.
The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Khehla John Sitole applauded the hard work of the police still at work to flatten the curve of the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
“The arrest of our own is both disheartening and at the same time pleasing in a sense that it shows that the SAPS remains unbiased and has the capacity and the capability to decisively deal with criminality within its ranks,” said Sitole.
All members faced criminal charges and internal departmental processes within the police service.
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