Johannesburg – Eleven bent cops including a colonel, lieutenant colonel, sergeant, and eight constables have been processed and charged with corruption, theft, extortion, defeating the administration of justice, and malicious property damage.
All the accused are from Sedibeng District Office, Evaton, Meyerton, and Gauteng Highway Patrol.
It alleged that during the lock down on 2021-07-04 at 04:00 the complainant, who is Chinese, and his father were driving along Neethling street Meyerton when they were suddenly stopped by a white unmarked Ford double cap.
Police officers, driving the unmarked Ford double cab, pulled up and accused the complainant of unlawfully selling liquor during the lockdown.
Allegations are that the complainant’s vehicle was searched and nothing illegal was found.
The complainant alleges that the police forced him to drive to his liquor store.
On arrival, more police officers converged at the Liquor store.
They searched the premises and confiscated the Liquor worth R600 000.
However, allegations are that the confiscated liquor was not booked in any police records.
The complainant also alleges that R700 000 in cash was also taken by the police in the presence of his father.
The complainant said the video camera system at the liquor store was broken by the Police officers.
Unbeknownst to the police, who allegedly removed the hard drive of the CCTV system, there was a backup recording.
During the search and seizure, the complaint alleges that along with the father they were handcuffed.
Police were doing all that while the complainant and his father were handcuffed.
The complainant further alleges that they were then arrested for bribery. The police claimed the pair tried to bribe them with R3 000.
However, after a police investigation into the matter, a case of theft, corruption, extortion, and mlicious damage to property was opened against the 11 accused.
The matter was also referred to Gauteng Provincial Anti-Corrution, which has since finalised their investigations.
The docket was taken to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for decision.
The DPP decided to prosecute all the above mentioned members.
Summons (J175) were issued for all the accused to appear at Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, (23 January 2025).
