Hawks net Thohoyandou prosecutor said to have solicited bribe
The complainant reported to the Hawks that the man had asked him for R6 000 to have case dockets disappear.
LIMPOPO – A 48-year-old prosecutor from Thohoyandou faces counts of corruption and defeating the ends of Justice, after apparently accepting a bribe.
The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team arrested the accused on Friday, 15 May after he is alleged to have accepted money from a complainant to make case dockets disappear.
The Spokesperson for the Hawks, Capt Matimba Maluleke said the accused, who operates from the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court, demanded R6 000 from a suspect who was facing reckless and negligence driving charges, to make the case dockets disappear. The incident was reported to the Hawks who initiated a sting operation whereby the prosecutor was arrested soon after he accepted the money, Maluleke explained.
The accused appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 18 May and will stay in custody until 26 May for a formal bail application. The Hawks make an appeal to anyone who paid money to the accused in order to evade prosecution, to come forward.
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Maj Genl Thobeka Jozi at the time commended the investigating team and added that anyone who contravenes the law, regardless of their status, will be dealt with, without fear or favour.
“While everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty, those who preside over cases are expected to conduct themselves expertly. Their dubious behaviour contaminates the proper administration of justice. We shall endure without fail to act without fear or favour regardless of anyone’s status that contravene the law,” Jozi concluded.
