A SUSPECTED syndicate of rogue policemen who allegedly colluded with an international cigarette-smuggling gang were arrested this week.
Nineteen policemen were arrested by a special task team comprising members of Crime Intelligence and detectives investigating the involvement of police in distributing illegal cigarettes.
The group consisted of six warrant officers and 13 constables from various stations in Limpopo.
Over the past year, 6728 cases of criminal and professional misconduct were filed against police officers with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).
Since April this year, the SAPS has dismissed 777 police officers for being involved in criminality.
Police commissioner General Riah Phiyega's spokesman, Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale, yesterday said the involvement of the group in criminal activities had been a subject of investigation for two years.
"We have gathered credible evidence against these officers. They were involved in escorting vehicles carrying illegal cigarettes from Zimbabwe in exchange for money," he said.
Ten of the officers appeared in the Sekgosese Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. They were released on bail of between R5000 and R1000. Six of the officers appeared in the Senwabarwana Magistrate's Court while three appeared in the Makhado Magi-strate's Court where they were all released on R10000 bail each.
Meanwhile, two warrant officers, aged 51 and 48, were arrested late on Tuesday afternoon and early Wednesday morning respectively after they allegedly demanded R5000 from a complainant. Earlier this year the complainant had gone to Seshego police station for a criminal record check after applying for employment at a private company.
On realising that the complainant's record was clean, the officers then "twisted things" and demanded money from the unsuspecting man. A trap was set and the officers were caught red-handed with the money.
Warrant officers Richard Mawasha and Simon Kutumela were released on R1000 bail each. Their case was postponed to January 5 for further investigation.
A constable attached to Polokwane police is also in the holding cells after he was arrested for armed robbery this week. Mpho Malatji, 29, was remanded in custody after he allegedly robbed a filling station in the city at gunpoint on Tuesday.
frankm@sowetan.co.za
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
Rotten cops on the beat - Officers' cigarette syndicate bust
A SUSPECTED syndicate of rogue policemen who allegedly colluded with an international cigarette-smuggling gang were arrested this week.
Nineteen policemen were arrested by a special task team comprising members of Crime Intelligence and detectives investigating the involvement of police in distributing illegal cigarettes.
The group consisted of six warrant officers and 13 constables from various stations in Limpopo.
Over the past year, 6728 cases of criminal and professional misconduct were filed against police officers with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).
Since April this year, the SAPS has dismissed 777 police officers for being involved in criminality.
Police commissioner General Riah Phiyega's spokesman, Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale, yesterday said the involvement of the group in criminal activities had been a subject of investigation for two years.
"We have gathered credible evidence against these officers. They were involved in escorting vehicles carrying illegal cigarettes from Zimbabwe in exchange for money," he said.
Ten of the officers appeared in the Sekgosese Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. They were released on bail of between R5000 and R1000. Six of the officers appeared in the Senwabarwana Magistrate's Court while three appeared in the Makhado Magi-strate's Court where they were all released on R10000 bail each.
Meanwhile, two warrant officers, aged 51 and 48, were arrested late on Tuesday afternoon and early Wednesday morning respectively after they allegedly demanded R5000 from a complainant. Earlier this year the complainant had gone to Seshego police station for a criminal record check after applying for employment at a private company.
On realising that the complainant's record was clean, the officers then "twisted things" and demanded money from the unsuspecting man. A trap was set and the officers were caught red-handed with the money.
Warrant officers Richard Mawasha and Simon Kutumela were released on R1000 bail each. Their case was postponed to January 5 for further investigation.
A constable attached to Polokwane police is also in the holding cells after he was arrested for armed robbery this week. Mpho Malatji, 29, was remanded in custody after he allegedly robbed a filling station in the city at gunpoint on Tuesday.
frankm@sowetan.co.za
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos