Montclair cop in the dock for bribery
A Montclair police officer was arrested and charged with bribery and corruption after he allegedly tried to bribe another officer to release a prisoner on Sunday, 19 January.
Two men had been arrested by the provincial vehicle and the Montclair task teams for being in possession of a stolen vehicle on Thursday, 16 January. One of the men was a police officer stationed at Reunion Railway Station. On Friday, 17 January, Montclair SAP’s W/O Tiger Ramsamy received text messages from a Montclair policeman offering him R40,000 for the release of the men.
The Hawks were contacted and a sting operation was set up. A meeting was arranged between the officer and W/O Ramsamy on Sunday, 19 January. The brother of the Reunion Railway Station officer was sent to make the drop. Upon receipt of the money, the Hawks, who were observing the exchange, pounced on the man and arrested him. The Montclair police officer who was responsible for initiating the bribe was arrested soon after at the police station.
Montclair SAP station commander, Col Riaan Vorster said: “Whenever there are cases of corruption, we deal with them effectively.”
The Montclair police officer who was charged with bribery and corruption appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 20 January. He was released on bail. The case is being investigated further.
-mbalim@dbn.caxton.co.za
