Two senior police officers were arrested for fraud and corruption relating to firearm licence applications during an intelligence-driven operation earlier today.
Previously reported: High-ranking officials implicated in firearm registry corruption
Brigadier Vish Naidoo, spokesperson for the SAPS National Commissioner, confirmed that members of the Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit assisted by the National Anti-Corruption Unit arrested two senior officers, both with the rank of brigadier, in Gauteng.
He said that the two are expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, October 28.
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“The brigadiers have been arrested for their alleged involvement in fraud, defeating the administration of justice and contravention of the Firearms Control Act (Act 60/2000) in multiple case dockets in the areas of Edenvale, Kempton Park and Norwood,” Naidoo said.
“Today’s arrests bring the total number of people arrested to 28 in connection with these cases after 26 people were arrested earlier this year.”
Of the 28 suspects, 17 are police officers of which two are retired and 11 are civilians.
“These investigations started three years ago when it emerged that during November 2017 security companies were involved in crimes of extortion in the Western Cape relating to firearm applications in Gauteng.
“In January 2018, it was found that several other people, family and friends in Cape Town obtained their competency certificates, licences to possess a firearm and temporary authorisation to possess a firearm in an allegedly fraudulent manner.”
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“Investigations revealed that the applicants all made applications in Gauteng area and more so in Kempton Park, Edenvale and Norwood,” Naidoo said.
Naidoo said information was received that the applicants would go to a gun shop in Kempton Park where they would do a proficiency test to make an application for competency to possess a firearm and ammunition.
“We are systematically identifying and routing out corruption and corrupt members from the SAPS”, said National Commissioner of Police, General Khehla John Sitole.
Sitole urged the public and SAPS to refrain from engaging in illegal activities.
High-ranking officials implicated in firearm registry corruption. Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said the majority of the applications made in Gauteng were done at the Edenvale, Norwood and Kempton Park police stations. https://t.co/wk1Eav6TOW
— Ekurhuleni Crime (@ERCrime) June 17, 2020
