Cops charged with stealing cash from CIT heist scene

Two police officers have been arrested by the Serious Corruption Investigation team in the Vaal Rand in Gauteng on charges of theft and defeating the ends of justice.

According to Colonel Katlego Mogale, 51-year-old Rapulane Levy Tlholoe and 53-year-old Ndavheleseni Edward Musetha attached to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit attended to a cash-in-transit crime scene in the Langlaagte area, Johannesburg in January this year.

During the heist, a group of armed men used explosives to bomb an armoured vehicle to gain access to the safe.

One suspect was arrested while four others died from gunshot wounds they sustained in a shootout with police.

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Other suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of cash, leaving the vehicle they used to ram the armoured vehicle off the road burning.

On arrival to the crime scene, the two officers allegedly placed the scattered cash inside four forensic seal bags to book them in at the police station.

“On arrival, allegations are that the suspects only submitted two sealed forensic bags,” Mogale said.

“Further investigation revealed that the suspects kept one torn sealed forensic bag with an undisclosed amount of money in their vehicle. More cash was discovered inside the cubbyhole and later placed in another sealed bag to be submitted as evidence, with one sealed bag missing.”

Warrants of arrest were issued and executed on Tuesday. They were charged for theft and defeating the ends of justice. The officers appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday afternoon.

“Although it is a difficult and disheartening situation to arrest your own, it is also necessary to do so when members are involved in serious crime as the DPCI members are expected to display integrity beyond reproach,” Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya said.