Police officers arrested for robbing a Swazi businessman
The officers claimed the victim was carrying toxic substances and should pay a bribe or they would confiscate his vehicle and arrest him
Two Mpumalanga police officers arrested in connection with corruption and theft under false pretense appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court today.
Constable Wonderboy Maseko (37) and Constable Mr Ephraim Nkosi (36) demanded a R200 000 bribe from a businessman from the Kingdom of Eswatini in Mbombela last week Friday. The victim was on his way to buy parts for one of his trucks when he was stopped by the two police officers.
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“They claimed he was carrying toxic substances and should pay a bribe or they would confiscate his vehicle and arrest him. He gave them a portion of the amount with an understanding that the rest will be paid on Tuesday at Jeppes Reef. Following this encounter, he reported the matter to the Swazi Police, who in turn, relayed the information to the SAPS crime intelligence,” explained Capt Dineo Sekgotodi, Hawks spokesperson in Mpumalanga.
The two, one of whom was on leave, made their way to the meeting point as agreed and they were then arrested in a joint operation between the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation and Crime Intelligence on Tuesday and charged with corruption, defeating the ends of justice, robbery and theft under false pretense.
They were released on R2 000 bail each and the case postponed to March 20.
