Five police officers from the Beacon Bay police station have been arrested for alleged fraud and corruption.
According to the National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) the five police officers together with a sixth accomplice, a taxi driver, allegedly conspired and looted a truck which was involved in an accident between East London and Macleantown on Tuesday afternoon.
The officers and the taxi driver allegedly helped themselves to perishable goods from the truck using a police vehicle as well as the taxi.
The Hawks say their Serious Corruption Investigation unit received a tip-off and responded together with their Crime Intelligence unit.
They seized a number boxes at various places in East London, including at the local police quarters.
All six suspects appeared at the East London Magistrate court on Thursday facing charges of corruption and theft.
Constables Azola Ndongeni (33), Mkolisi Matthews Gola (38), Luthando Klaas (34), Siyabonga Freddie (36), Siseko Dayimani (33) and taxi driver, Xolani Valantiya (43) were granted R1000 bail each pending their next appearance on 20 September 2018. Investigations continue.
Hawks head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya condemned the arrest of the officers.
Lebeya has warned that the Hawks will continue to ensure that the South African Police Service (SAPS) remains a clean and efficient service.
“We will continue to confront any form of corruption and criminality in the SAPS precisely because we are of the firm belief that both forms of criminal behaviour have no place in our existence.”
“While I am outraged at the news of the five police officers, I am similarly excited that they were swiftly brought to book by their own colleagues,” he said.
Source: eNCA
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