A sting operation by Limpopo Hawks resulted in the arrest of a 54-year-old deputy director stationed at Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre in Louis Trichardt as well as a 46-year-old prosecutor of Morebeng Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud and corruption on Monday.
Limpopo Hawks Spokesperson Matimba Maluleke indicated that the operation was first conducted in Thohoyandou where the deputy director was arrested on charges of corruption and fraud.
The suspect who is responsible for procurement at the correctional centre allegedly colluded with a service provider to exorbitantly overprice certain goods in return of gratification, according to Maluleke. The correctional centre has allegedly suffered a loss of over R300 000 in the process.
His accomplice who owns a clothing company in Polokwane was arrested the same day and both were summoned to appear in the Louis Trichardt Magistrate’s Court on 11 December.
Maluleke could not provide their names.
In the second incident prosecutor Molatelo Herbert Serumule was arrested on charges of corruption, fraud and defeating the ends of justice after he allegedly solicited a R2 000 bribe from an accused who was charged with possession of suspected stolen property in order to ensure that the case did not proceed.
The complainant reportedly made an initial payment of R500 to Serumule and the case was indeed withdrawn but Serumule subsequently demanded the balance of the money, according to Maluleke.
The Hawks were alerted on the incident resulting in the law man’s arrest. Serumule appeared in the Morebeng Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and granted bail of R1 000. He is due back in court on 18 January.
Story: RC Myburgh
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