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A police officer who allegedly demanded R20,000 to release a vehicle stolen during a home robbery in Pretoria was expected to appear in court on a corruption charge Thursday.
The arrest of the 43-year-old police officer from the Silverton K9 unit followed allegations of corruption that the producers of an investigative journalism television series brought to the attention of the police leadership in Gauteng in November.
“The whistleblower alleged that his motor vehicle had been stolen during a December 2019 home robbery in Pretoria,” said police spokesman Brig Mathapelo Peters.
“The complainant further reported that he was contacted in January 2020 and was informed by members of the police that his vehicle had been recovered and that he needed to bring 20,000 rand in cash for the release of his car. Subsequently there was an exchange of money between the complainant and the arrested member, after which the vehicle was returned to the complainant ”.
The bailiff was scheduled to appear before the Pretoria trial court on charges of corruption and frustrating the purposes of justice.
Police urged victims of vehicle theft and kidnapping to resist the temptation to pay anyone, much less SAPS members, for the release of stolen or hijacked cars.
“This is an illegal act and victims could be arrested for being complicit in acts of corruption,” Peters said.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela congratulated the provincial anti-corruption unit on the arrest.
TimesLIVE
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