Hawks officer arrested in Silver Lakes for extortion
The municipal CFO had made two payments to the tune of R150 000 but laid a charge of extortion when the lieutenant colonel demanded another R100 000.
A Hawks police officer has been arrested in an east of Pretoria sting operation recently.
The lieutenant colonel was remanded in custody until February 15 for a formal bail application after he appeared before a Pretoria magistrate on February 8, on charges of corruption and extortion.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the officer was arrested after a senior municipal official complained about extortion.
Mathe said a City of Matlosana municipality senior official and CFO, Mercy Phetla (38) alleged she was targeted by an extortion involving the law enforcement member attached to Klerksdorp branch Hawks.
“The accused alleged the CFO had bought an Amarok Volkswagen bakkie after receiving some kickbacks,” Mathe said.
He threatened the complainant with arrest for receiving kickbacks unless she paid him R50 000.
The money was paid however the accused later demanded R100 000.”
Mathe said the official paid the lieutenant colonel again.
“The accused later demanded another R100 000, and she reported the matter to the police, whereby a sting operation was conducted in Silver Lakes.”
On January 17, the CFO and two GMHM Construction and Projects two employees were in the dock on corruption charges.
She has since been released on R35 000 bail and is scheduled to reappear before the Klerksdorp court on March 1.
The corruption charges are fuelled by allegations that the Mabopane company, GMHM Construction and Projects, purchased a VW Amarok worth R1.4-million for Phetla in June 2023.
It is alleged she did not declare the benefit to the council.
🔴ANC Councillors Protect “CORRUPT” CFO🔴
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After the arrest of Matlosana CFO & statements from various parties and organisations regarding the suspension of the corrupt accused CFO at the City of Matlosana, Mercy Phetla, ANC councillors say the CFO is going nowhere. pic.twitter.com/MacubjqbOb
— The Insight Factor (@insightfactor) February 7, 2024
GMHM Construction and Projects had won a tender to supply paraffin to the North West municipality.
North West National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Henry Mamothame confirmed Phetla as well as Matshepiso Mothelesane (39) and Nomthandazo Mokasule (49), employees of GMHM Construction and Projects, appeared in the Klerksdorp magistrate’s court on January 17 on corruption charges.
“The trio had handed themselves to the Klerksdorp Hawks earlier.”
He said the case was postponed to March 1.
The accused were ordered to surrender their passports to the investigating officer and that all documents relating to GMHM be immediately removed from the CFO as conditions for freedom on bail.
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