SA cops arrested for allegedly demanding bribe from rape suspect

In January last year, one of the accused police officers was allegedly investigating a case of rape, but instead of arresting the suspect, phoned him and demanded a R25,000 bribe to drop the case.

PRETORIA, June 8 (ANA) – Three police officers attached to the family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit in Mpumalanga province have been arrested and released on bail after allegedly soliciting a bribe from a man accused of rape, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) said.

Investigating officers Sergeant Bonisile Daphney Mjali, aged 45, Sergeant Xolani Howard Nxumalo (37) and Constable Thulisile Patricia Mkhatshwa (35) appeared before the Kabokweni magistrate’s court on Monday facing charges of corruption, Hawks Mpumalanga spokeswoman Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said in a statement.

One of the accused was allegedly investigating a case of rape but instead of arresting the suspect, phoned him and demanded a bribe of R25,000 (US$1,842) so as not to arrest him and to drop the case, Sekgotodi said.

The implicated police officers then drove to the workplace of the rape suspect to demand the money, but the man said he could not afford the R25,000, instead offering to pay R5,000 in cash.

“They instructed him to put the money inside the state vehicle that they were driving and told him that they spoke to the prosecutor and he said he can pay extra R10,000 to make it R15 000. The accused kept on phoning the complainant, demanding money until he reported the matter to the Hawks who initiated an investigation,” said Sekgotodi.

“An undercover operation was conducted but the accused kept on postponing the meeting with the complainant. The court issued warrants of arrest against the trio which was executed [on Monday] and the accused were arrested at their workplace.”

After their appearance on Monday the three police officers were released on R3,000 bail each and the case transferred to the Nelspruit commercial crime court. The next hearing is set for July 6.

– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa