Marble Hall test officials granted bail
10 men arrested in Marble Hall on Wednesday, 16 October on charges of fraud and defeating the ends of justice, appeared in the local court and nine were granted bail.
LIMPOPO – The accused are alleged to have used the identity particulars of unsuspecting individuals to issue roadworthy certificates for scores of vehicles that were never brought to the station for physical examination. On the day of the arrests several officials were caught red-handed trying to destroy evidence. Among the arrested men included the vehicle testing station owner, the manager, examiners and an administration clerk.
Read more: 11 more arrested in Operation Corolla
In a statement, Hawks Spokesperson, Capt Matimba Maluleke said the Marble Hall Periodical Court on Tuesday, 22 October granted the 36-year-old owner of the testing station R5 000 bail. Eight accused were granted R2 000 bail each and a tenth accused was remanded in custody due to previous cases against him.
A total of 32 test officials were arrested in various parts of the province last week during the ongoing Operation Corolla, conducted by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and the Special Investigative Unit (SIU).
Four officials arrested at a Lephalale test station have since appeared in the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court this week and were remanded in custody for further bail application. The 17 test officials arrested in Polokwane appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
