Johannesburg – Two Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers have been arrested by the Internal Affairs Unit for extortion, kidnapping and corruption.
Narrating events leading to the arrest of the pair, the JMPD Internal Affairs Unit said it received a complaint from a member of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The police officer reported that JMPD officers had “kidnapped her friend” and were driving around in Mayfair.
She said her friend had been accused of having a fake foreign driving licence.
Members from the Internal Affairs Unit attended to the complaint on Friday, (16 December 2022).
They traced the JMPD patrol vehicle and found that the two male officers, who are attached to the Special Patrol Unit (SPU), had already released the member of the public in Mayfair after they extorted R4 000 from him.
A preliminary investigation was undertaken to verify the allegations.
Upon interviewing the two officers, it was established that there was misconduct committed by the duo.
Members of the Internal Affairs Unit searched the officers and their vehicle and an amount of R14 000 was retrieved including over 300 foreign driving licenses and two South African licenses.
This substantiated the officers’ modus operandi.
The SAPS complainant’s friend was summoned to the Internal Affairs office, and he positively identified the two officers as the ones he paid the bribe to be released.
It is alleged by the complainant that he had earlier given the officers cash.
They allegedly demanded more money and the complainant sent an e-wallet to the friend, who in turn handed it over to the Metro cops.
Video footage was also obtained, revealing the interaction between the complainant and the officers.
The duo was arrested and detained at Johannesburg Central Police Station on multiple charges.
Apart from the criminal charges laid against the two officers, an internal investigation for bringing the department into disrepute has been prompted.
Commenting on the arrest of the two Metro cops, MMC for Public Safety, David Tembe said: “The Department has a resolute stance against misconduct and corruption by any of our staff members. We will not tolerate any conduct that brings the Department into disrepute.
“Those who are found wanting will be brought to book without fear or favour.
“Members of the public are discouraged from bribing officers and must rather report such acts to the JMPD Internal Affairs on 011- 490 1814.”
