Four arrested for allegedly selling alcohol during lockdown
Police say the owner of the pub alleged to be selling the alcohol attempted to bribe the police with R30,000.
Four suspects have been arrested in Randburg, Johannesburg, for allegedly selling alcohol in contravention of the Disaster Management Act.
Gauteng MEC for community safety Faith Mazibuko said on Monday Linden police officers received information from their commander about a pub in Randburg selling alcohol, which is banned during the period of the national lockdown.
Mazibuko said the police officers then went undercover and went to the pub posing as potential customers who would resell the alcohol for a profit.
“They asked the security guard and he referred them to one of the guys who was standing outside the pub who was an employee,” the MEC said.
The undercover police officers then approached the employee, Mazibuko said, under the pretext of wanting to purchase alcohol from the pub.
“He took their contact details and said he will talk to his boss and call them back. Later he called and said they should place an order and pick it up the following day around 11am,” Mazibuko said.
The undercover police officers then ordered alcohol worth R12,500, the MEC said.
“The next day they proceeded to Sunrise to collect the alcohol. They got there and the owner went with his other two employees to get the alcohol and loaded it in our car.
“One of the police vehicles came to the scene with blue lights and they identified themselves and apprehended the suspects. The owner offered them R30,000 to leave this whole thing. He was arrested for bribery. Alcohol seized was worth an estimated R200,000.”
Mazibuko commended the Linden SAPS for the arrests.
4 SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR SELLING ALCOHOL DURING LOCKDOWN AND BRIBING POLICE.
1. On 2020/05/04 Linden Officers received information from their commander about Sunrise Pub & restaurant in Malanshof, Randburg, selling Alchohol in contravention of the Disaster Management Act pic.twitter.com/HeSHd1J8sC
— MEC Faith Mazibuko (@FaithMazibukoSA) May 6, 2020
(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu)
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