Riot Hlatshwayo

Riot Hlatshwayo

A senior Mpumalanga municipal official left one court on bail yesterday and was immediately arrested again on another charge.

Kevin Phiri, 40, head of infrastructure at the Maruleng municipality, appeared briefly in the Mhala magistrate's court in Thulamahashe charged with possession of stolen property. He was not asked to plead and was granted R800 bail. His case was postponed to October 2.

However, as Phiri left the court, he was re-arrested and charged with stealing two laptops belonging to a Hoedspruit man.

Police spokesman, Robert Makhubele, said they had been tipped off about the possible location of stolen property and had raided Phiri's house. During their search, police allegedly found the two laptops.

He said the laptops had been reported stolen at the Hoedspruit police station hence the separate charges.

Makhubele said during the search at Phiri's house, police had also recovered goods, including vehicle tyres, belonging to the Maruleng municipality.