A POLICE inspector in Mpumalanga has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment or a R20000 fine after pleading guilty to seven counts of taking bribes from vehicle towing services.

Instead of immediately alerting police and emergency services personnel to accidents, Inspector Gerhardus Cornelius Glinister of the Lydenburg police called towing companies to the accident scenes first, putting the lives of victims in danger.

Glinister, 38, and five other police officers arrested last week, allegedly collaborated with towing companies in and around Dullstroom and Lydenburg for kickbacks.

The six appeared in the Belfast regional court last week but only Glinister pleaded guilty to the charges.

He was sentenced to a further 12-month jail term, which was suspended for five years.

Captain Leonard Hlathi of the Mpumalanga organised crime unit said Inspector Ngolovane Michael Mnisi, 43, also stationed at Lydenburg, was denied bail and his case was postponed to August 27.

The others, Inspector Jeremiah German Fenyane, Inspector Hlobogang Abinaar Mashele, Constable Milton Samuel Mashile and Inspector Pieter Laban Khoza, were granted bail of R1500 each.

Their case was postponed to September 17.

In another case Constable Mduduzi Magagula of the Barberton police was arrested for allegedly selling a car impounded by police back to the owner.

He is out on R2500 bail and will appear in court again on August 28.