The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit made a significant breakthrough, leading to the arrest of four police officers and two civilians for a string of serious crimes, including corruption, extortion, kidnapping and assault.
The arrests come after a case was registered at Honeydew Police Station in February, detailing a harrowing incident in which a victim was targeted by the accused on January 30.
Macdonald Musundwa Nethavhani (31), Ayanda Meya (29), Fhumulani Netsianda (31), and Wisani Ngobeni (31), all constables attached to the Crime Intelligence unit in Johannesburg, were arrested during the Women’s Day long weekend. Two civilians, Ramiel Singh and Mphoto Cyril Sehoene, handed themselves over to investigators on August 12.
• Read the initial article here: Betraying the badge: Corrupt cops arrested
A victim was approached by four civilians dressed in police uniforms who proceeded to drive with him to Fairlands Police Station after informing him that they were investigating him for fraud.
According to the victim, after their trip to the station, he was then taken to a house in Fourways and assaulted, where they took his cellphones and transferred R180 000 from his bank account into one of theirs.
The group appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on August 12, where they were granted R3 000 bail each. The spokesperson for Hawks, Captain Lloyd Ramovha, told the Roodepoort Northsider that the case has been postponed to September 30, pending further investigations.
Gauteng Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, praised the investigators for their hard work, emphasising that police officers are supposed to uphold the law and protect the public.
“We will spare no resources to ensure that those who involve themselves in criminal activities face the full might of the law,” Kadwa said.
