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Court interpreter arrested for corruption
A 46-year-old court interpreter at Breyten Court, Simon Prince Shongwe was arrested by members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation on Friday for soliciting a bribe from family members of five suspects who were recently arrested for stock theft.
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It is alleged that on May 14, 2019, Shongwe approached one of the police reservists at Bryeten SAPS and offered to assist the detainees.
He further allegedly requested that his contact number be given to the families of the detained suspects so that he is able to facilitate their release in exchange of R25 000.00 bribe.
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The matter was reported to the Hawks and a sting operation was carried out which resulted in Shongwe being arrested shortly after he received the money in his office.
The suspect appeared before Breyten Magistrate’s Court on Monday and was released on a R1500.00 bail. The case has been postponed to June 25 pending further investigation.