EIGHT Johannesburg metro police officers have been arrested for allegedly stealing some of the expensive liquor they were supposed to protect from looters
The metro cops were arrested on the N12 between Johannesburg and Potchefstroom yesterday.
The officers in two metro police vehicles were alerted of an incident in which liquor cases were falling from a moving delivery horse-and-trailer truck travelling in the direction of Potchefstroom.
Metro police spokesperson Wayne Minnaar yesterday confirmed that a team of police officers "have been sent to investigate the matter".
Motorists that had just drove past the truck informed the metro police about the incident because they were concerned about the safety of people and other motorists who were stopping at the scene to load liquor cases in their vehicles.
Lieutenant Colonel Lesego Metsi of North West provincial police confirmed the incident. He said it happened about 20km outside Potchefstroom.
He said the trailer's canvas cover was blown off by wind and cases of liquor started to fall at intervals from the moving truck.
Metsi said the metro cops in two vehicles arrived at the scene after the truck had stopped after being alerted by passing motorists.
The helpless driver and his crew, pleaded with the metro police for assistance. But that fell on deaf ears as the officers helped themselves to cases of some of the most expensive whiskeys and cognac, among others.
Metsi said a major general from the North West provincial office, who was travelling on the same road towards Johannesburg, found the metro police officers loading the loot in their official vehicles. At some stage there were about 100 people scrambling for the liquor on the truck.
"He immediately summoned the police from Potchefstroom who came to the rescue of the truck driver and his crew," said Metsi.
"The police had a difficult job because they had to control the large crowd of looters as well as arrest the eight metro police officers. The ages of the detained officers ranged between 25 and 39."
The liquor found in the two Metro police vehicles is estimated at R50000. The cops are expected to appear in the Potchefstroom magistrate's court today over charges of theft.
8 Metro cops arrested after liquor truck looted
EIGHT Johannesburg metro police officers have been arrested for allegedly stealing some of the expensive liquor they were supposed to protect from looters
The metro cops were arrested on the N12 between Johannesburg and Potchefstroom yesterday.
The officers in two metro police vehicles were alerted of an incident in which liquor cases were falling from a moving delivery horse-and-trailer truck travelling in the direction of Potchefstroom.
Metro police spokesperson Wayne Minnaar yesterday confirmed that a team of police officers "have been sent to investigate the matter".
Motorists that had just drove past the truck informed the metro police about the incident because they were concerned about the safety of people and other motorists who were stopping at the scene to load liquor cases in their vehicles.
Lieutenant Colonel Lesego Metsi of North West provincial police confirmed the incident. He said it happened about 20km outside Potchefstroom.
He said the trailer's canvas cover was blown off by wind and cases of liquor started to fall at intervals from the moving truck.
Metsi said the metro cops in two vehicles arrived at the scene after the truck had stopped after being alerted by passing motorists.
The helpless driver and his crew, pleaded with the metro police for assistance. But that fell on deaf ears as the officers helped themselves to cases of some of the most expensive whiskeys and cognac, among others.
Metsi said a major general from the North West provincial office, who was travelling on the same road towards Johannesburg, found the metro police officers loading the loot in their official vehicles. At some stage there were about 100 people scrambling for the liquor on the truck.
"He immediately summoned the police from Potchefstroom who came to the rescue of the truck driver and his crew," said Metsi.
"The police had a difficult job because they had to control the large crowd of looters as well as arrest the eight metro police officers. The ages of the detained officers ranged between 25 and 39."
The liquor found in the two Metro police vehicles is estimated at R50000. The cops are expected to appear in the Potchefstroom magistrate's court today over charges of theft.
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