Hawks clamp down on ten

Government officials and public servants became the target of Limpopo Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation Unit who arrested suspects on charges of fraud and corruption across the province since last week.
The most recent arrest was executed at a fuel station just outside Polokwane when Limpopo Hawks apprehended a 36-year-old man claiming to be in the employ of the Department of Education on Monday afternoon
Limpopo Hawks Spokesperson Matimba Maluleke indicated that a complainant declared that he had recently submitted a tender to provide security services at schools across the province to the department. He alleged that he received a call from the suspect who claimed to be an employee at the department and allegedly demanded R100 000 in order for the tender to be awarded to the complainant.
Maluleke said the complainant then notified the Hawks who conducted an operation resulting in the arrest of the suspect immediately upon accepting the bribe. He is expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court soon.
Limpopo Hawks in conjunction with the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet) made a major breakthrough when they arrested four officials of the liquor licence board as well as a Police officer of Tubatse following allegations of the approval and issuing of liquor licences without following proper procedure.
All suspects were summoned to appear before the Praktiseer and Sekhukhune Magistrate’s Courts on 14 December respectively facing charges of fraud and corruption.
During another sting operation a 54-year-old deputy director stationed at Kutama Sinthumule Correctional Centre in Louis Trichardt as well as his female accomplice, a businessperson from Polokwane were arrested also on charges of fraud and corruption.
The suspect, responsible for procurement at the correctional centre, allegedly colluded with the woman to exorbitantly overprice clothing in return of gratification, according to Maluleke. Both were summoned to appear in the Louis Trichardt Magistrate’s Court on 11 December.
Meanwhile, a prosecutor of Morebeng Magistrate’s Court, Molatelo Herbert Serumule, 46, is expected back in court on 18 January to face charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice. Serumule was arrested after allegedly soliciting a R2 000 bribe from an accused charged with possession of suspected stolen property, in order to ensure that the case did not proceed.
Lastly, a 33-year-old woman employed as a cleaner at Mecklenburg Hospital was arrested on a charge of corruption. In 2015 the Department of Health advertised different posts and the suspect apparently approached one of the applicants with a promise of securing her employment at a cost. The victim reportedly paid a deposit with high expectations of employment which never materialised. The suspect is expected back in the Praktiseer Magistrate Court on 12 December.

Story: RC Myburgh
>>rc.observer@gmail.com