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KABOKWENI – Crime does not pay, no matter how insignificant is seems!
This was proved in a corruption case levelled against a 37-year-old police official of KaBokweni police station who had been convicted and found guilty of accepting a R500 bribe.
The Nelspruit Regional Court sentenced former Const Steven Whiskey Shabangu to three years’ imprisonment on November 11.
This follows an incident at Themba Hospital on October 13, 2010 when Shabangu unlawfully agreed to accept a R1 000 from Ms Trudy Richards for the release her brother, Mr George Tony Richards, who was at the hospital under police guard.
Evidence brought in court is that the complainant in the case reported the matter to his superiors at the KaBokweni police. She also called him while at the police and their conversation was recorded.
A trap was then set up for Shabangu and he was arrested by his colleagues while accepting half of the said amount. The R500 was also confiscated. It was heard in court that he had lost his job at the police sector and stood no chance of ever being employed in any government institution in future.
“He had started selling fruit and vegetables to take care of his family, including his sick 95-year-old grandmother and 18-year-old sister,” said his defence lawyer.
“There is no loss to the witness because the R500 he was arrested for accepting is still with the police, it is my humble submission that the accused is a non-violent, first offender and this court should consider a lenient sentence’ his lawyer said in his plea for a lesser sentence.
However, his plea was strongly opposed by the state prosecutor, Mr Simon Mamabolo, who mentioned that one reason why people resolve to take the law into their own hands is because they have lost confidence in the police.
‘What had been lost here is the confidence in the police unit. Corruption had become a norm in the country and courts should send a strong message that it is unacceptable and won’t be tolerated,’ stated Mamabolo.
When passing judgement, magistrate Mr André Geldenhuys said, ‘This is a serious crime and such crimes are now common in the country, members of the police should be honest and conduct themselves in an impeccable manner. This includes traffic officials who accept bribes hidden in drivers ID books,’ he said.
“You deserved your dismissal from the force and I am determined to end corruption in all government department, there is no mercy for this crime,’ he said before sentencing. Shabangu has to serve a third of his sentence in prison before he can be considered for parole.
Corruption will never end…at the moment…il be forced to pay an a official just to receive my drivers license. R1500 just for me to get my license. Please could you look into this, and its not just the examiners but the driving schools