7 police officials arrested for corruption in Durban

Seven police officials were scheduled to appear in court today on corruption charges.

Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo said Hawks members from Durban Serious Corruption Investigation on Sunday arrested three off-duty police officials and one civilian for corruption after receiving a complaint of corruption from the Phoenix area in Durban.

“The complainant alleged that while he was busy at his shop, one customer entered and requested three boxes (cartons) of cigarettes. He paid R400 and was given back his change.”

A few minutes later, four suspects entered the shop and one of them introduced himself as a police official. He further introduced his accomplices as colleagues from Pretoria. They then searched the shop and confiscated stock of cigarettes, claiming that it was counterfeit.

“They further demanded the owner’s firearm and drove to Phoenix police station where they demanded R100 000 gratification in order to release the complainant together with his stock,” said Mhlongo.

He added that the complainant contacted his wife and she managed to raise an amount of R79 500.

“Hawks members were alerted and swiftly responded. The meeting point was arranged and the suspects were arrested immediately after taking the cash,” he said.

Mhlongo said that this morning, four more police officials handed themselves over to the Hawks and were also charged with corruption.

“The eight suspects aged between 31 and 54 were charged with corruption. They are all expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court [on Tuesday]. The investigation continues and more arrests are expected,” he said.

The court outcome was not known at the time of publi