The former Warrant Officer Frederick George de Bruin (50) was arrested on the following charges: Corruption, Theft of Laptop, Theft of Police Docket and Defeating the Ends of Justice.
De Bruin was dismissed from the SAPS through expeditious process.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhelesaid: “On the 20 January 2021 at about 13:00 the Detective Warrant Officer approached the suspect who was charged with reckless and negligent driving promising that he can steal the police docket and sell at a prize of R 5000. The member was not investigating this case.
The whistle blower reported the incident to the authorities and the incident was reported to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit. An entrapment was arranged which led to further investigation.
“The exchange took place and the Warrant Officer was given R5 000 cash and the whistle blower was given the police docket in which he was a suspect.
While members of the Anti-Corruption Unit were busy searching the arrested member’s house, a receipt of a pawn shop was found, where a state laptop was pawned. Cash to the amount to R5000 was also found in his possession.”
The state laptop was fetched from one of the pawn shop in Odendaalsrus and seized as it was stolen.
The former Warrant Officer was found guilty as charged by Odendaalsrus Regional Court.
The case was finalised in the 19 July 2021, where he was sentenced as follows:
Count one: Corruption – 15 years
Count two: Theft of laptop – 15 years
Count three: Theft of police case docket – 15 years
Count four: Defeating the ends of justice -: 5 years in jail.
The investigation was conducted by Detective Sergeant Vusimuzi Ngomane of Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit.
“The sentence is a clear cut message that corruption does not pay and that as police management will never tolerate any act of corruption within our rank” said the Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Baile Motswenyane.
“We commend the judiciary and thorough investigation conducted by dedicated team to remove those who are criminals hiding behind our dignified badge” concluded the Provincial Commissioner.
