Immigration official and police officer arrested for corruption at OR Tambo
Initial investigations have established that a runner brought the passports to the airport and handed them over to the policeman.
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi welcomed the arrest of an immigration official with his police accomplice at the OR Tambo International Airport.
ALSO READ: Fraudster nabbed at OR Tambo
The immigration official was under observation for some time because of his suspicious behaviour and lifestyle.
The net closed in on him on March 8 when he was caught red-handed stamping nine passports of nationals from different countries.
The official stamped the passports as the passport holders had left the country in February and returned on March 8.
Initial investigations have established that a runner brought the passports to the airport and handed them over to the policeman.
The uniformed officer used his clearance to bypass security into the immigration area.
He then linked up with the immigration official who proceeded to stamp the passports.
ALSO READ: Man caught with drugs worth over R1- million at the OR Tambo
An undercover police officer caught and arrested the duo.
It is believed that the immigration officer charged R2 000 for each of the passports he stamped.
The arrested immigration and police officer were expected to appear at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on March 13.
The outcome of their appearance is not known.
The police are on the trail of the runner and the owners of the passports.
“We are indebted to the brave and patriotic law enforcement officers for the arrest of each rascal that cheapens the status of our country.
“I am extremely encouraged by these patriotic acts and I am even more determined to continue the fight against corruption in home affairs,” said Motsoaledi.
“The act of stamping passports for departure and re-entry of people who remain in our country is extremely worrying.
ALSO READ: Woman caught with cocaine destined to Singapore at OR Tambo
“The owners of these passports can commit crimes in the country and claim that it could not have been them because ‘they were not in the country’ at the time of the commission of the crimes.
They can use our departure and re-entry stamps on their passports to argue their cases in court.
“This is simply inexcusable. It makes foreign nationals with bad intentions believe that South Africa is up for the take,” added Motsoaledi.
ALSO READ: Woman caught with cocaine destined to Singapore at OR Tambo
He issued a warning to criminals operating out of OR Tambo International Airport and other ports of entry that they are being watched every single day and law enforcement will pounce on them at any moment.
Also follow us on:
