Mbombela (Nelspruit) – Corruption-accused court interpreter, 48-year-old Timothy Sibuyi, who was out on R5 000 bail, has been re-arrested by the Hawks – this time for contempt of court in Mpumalanga.
The arrest of the former Mhala Regional Court interpreter was effected after he failed to appear in court last month, on 23 September 2024.
Initially, Sibuyi was arrested on 18 September 2023 for alleged corruption.
It is alleged that on 17 November 2022, Sibuyi approached the brother of an accused person who was arrested for a rape case.
Sibuyi allegedly invited him to his office at Mhala Magistrates’ Court.
He allegedly told the rape accused’s brother, who was not represented by a Legal Aid Attorney, that he could arrange for legal representation on condition he was paid gratification.
When the complainant offered him R1 000, Sibuyi allegedly refused, stating that the money was too little and he instead demanded R2 500.
The money was raised by the family and deposited into Sibuyi’s Capitec bank account.
The complainant then reported the matter to the police.
Allegations are that after the accused heard that a corruption case against him was being probed, he approached the mother of the complainant and paid back R2 000 while promising to settle the outstanding amount later.
The Hawks investigated the matter and sought a warrant for Sibuyi’s arrest, which was authorised and executed on 18 September 2023.
The accused was released on R5 000 bail and the case was postponed to 16 October 2023.
Sibuyi went through an internal disciplinary process and was dismissed from his court interpreter job.
Meanwhile, the corruption case against Sibuyi was transferred to Nelspruit Regional Court.
The accused appeared in court on several occasions until 7 September 2024, when he sent a sick note.
The case was postponed to 23 September 2024, but Sibuyi did not attend court or give reasons for his failure to appear.
A warrant of arrest was authorised and executed on 7 October 2024.
As a result of his arrest, Sibuyi’s bail was forfeited to the state.
His matter will now be heard on 15 October 2024.
The accused remains in custody.
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Major General Gerber applauded the team for pursuing the matter until the accused was brought back to court.
Giving an update on a similar matter, Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said in April 2021, a 43-year-old Calcutta Court Interpreter Zizwe Zitha was arrested for a similar crime.
Zitha was also dismissed from the service.
“He is expected back in Nelspruit Regional Court on 15 October 2024, facing charges of Corruption,” said Captain Sekgotodi.
Major General Gerber urged the members of the public to come forward if they had similar experiences with any court interpreter.
