THE trial of three police officers who allegedly arrested a couple for public indecency and then attempted to extort a bribe from them to drop the charges, continued in the Empangeni Regional Court on Thursday.
Cst Siphosethu Myesa (33), Cst Lukhululeko Mndunge (33) and W/O Justice Gumede (44) were apprehended by the Hawks in 2013, during a buy and bust undercover operation with marked police notes.
According to evidence in court, the couple was canoodling in the car near the Empangeni Central Park when they were approached by the accused, who allegedly demanded R3 500 in return for their release, but later dropped to sum to R2 000.
Investigating Officer, W/O Ryno Louw, testified that a sting operation was conducted by the Hawks, acting on information.
The police money was subsequently recovered from the marked police vehicle driven by the accused.
The defence team however placed all the evidence of the seven State witnesses in dispute and asked the court for an acquittal following the closing of the State case. They argued that the evidence on record was insufficient to place the accused on their defence.
The Section 174 application was refused by the presiding officer and the matter was adjourned until 12 August for transcripts of the case to be ordered on request of the magistrate.
The accused are out on bail.
