Update

GEORGE NEWS - A police officer attached to the Conville police station was arrested on suspicion of corruption on Thursday 16 May during an undercover operation while he and another man were allegedly busy making an illegal transaction.

Sergeant Jydrean Heathcote appeared in the George Magistrate's Court the following day where the case was postponed for a bail application on Monday 20 May. He was released on bail of R2 000 and will appear in court again on 21 August.

The man Heathcote was talking to at the time of his arrest, is a convicted fraudster awaiting sentencing. Heathcote was the investigating officer in this case.

The fraud accused was arrested by Heathcote in 2016. He was scheduled to be sentenced on Friday 17 May, but the case was remanded to 24 May.

Southern Cape police spokesperson, Capt Malcolm Pojie, confirmed that a disciplinary investigation is underway following the allegations and criminal investigation.

"As law enforcers we will not tolerate corruption at any level within the police. To be respected in our community we have to stay above suspicion at all times. We will not shy away from rooting out corruption within our corps," he said.

Colleagues and friends of Heathcote expressed their shock this week following his arrest. 

"I would first like to see how the case plays out in court and would like to see hard evidence presented in court before I believe he is guilty. He is a brilliant investigator, one of Conville's best. He is always helpful and goes the extra mile," one colleague said.