Metro cop convicted for corruption

A former metro police officer was found guilty of corruption in the Cullinan Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

Sebo Mathabatha demanded a R100 bribe from an undercover national traffic anti-corruption unit agent during a safety operation on the notorious Moloto Road, Rekord North reported.

“She has been found guilty of contravening section 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act of 2004,” said Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson Simon Zwane.

Under the act, “any person who gives or accepts or offers to give or accept any gratification amounting to an unauthorised or improper inducement to act or not to act in a particular manner is guilty of an offence”.

Zwane said Mathabatha resigned from the metro police two days after the charge was laid against her.

Zwane said the outcome served to show that there were consequence for people who solicited bribes.

“It’s just a pity that some of these cases take long, but this should serve as a warning to other officers with unethical conduct.”

He advised motorists never to pay a bribe to officers.

“Just take their names, time, location and the registration number of their vehicle.”

Metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba declined to comment, saying Mathabatha was no longer an employee.

Mathabatha was released on a warning and would be sentenced on March 29.

– Caxton News  Service

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