Detective and former colleague nabbed on corruption charges

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GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - Two men, a seasoned police detective and a former police officer, have been arrested in Thembalethu on charges of corruption, following an investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation Unit.

The former police officer was arrested at his house in the early hours of this morning, 10 June, while the detective was nabbed at the police station shortly after he had arrived for duty.

The Western Cape Hawks’ head, Major General Mathipa Makgato, has welcomed the arrests and commended the team for acting swiftly in a matter involving law enforcement officials.

The suspects, aged 39 and 44, are expected to appear in the George Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday 11 June.

According to preliminary reports, the former police constable who was stationed at Thembalethu Police Station was investigating an assault case when he allegedly instructed the suspects to apologise to the complainant and pay R2 500 to have the case ‘go away’. The suspects allegedly paid the money to the constable, who claimed he would pass it on to the complainant, but failed to do so. The constable recently resigned.

In a further twist, a serving detective also stationed at the Thembalethu Police Station allegedly became involved after learning of a complaint against his former colleague. He is accused of attempting to intimidate and improperly influence the complainant to withdraw or alter her testimony in favour of the former detective.