Two bogus Hawks members arrested in Limpopo for alleged corruption and impersonation of police officers

Two suspects have been arrested for alleged corruption and attempting to impersonate Hawks officers in Limpopo.

POLOKWANE, November 22 (ANA) – Two suspects, aged 24 and 27, have been arrested for alleged corruption and attempting to impersonate Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) officers in Marble Hall in Limpopo, the DPCI – commonly known as the Hawks – in the province said on Sunday.

The two men were arrested on Saturday following a Hawks investigation, Limpopo Hawks spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke said in a statement.

“The complainant, who is a director of a company that was awarded a tender to supply Covid-19 personal protective equipment [PPE] in [neighbouring province] Mpumalanga, allegedly received a call from the suspect who introduced himself as a member of the Hawks stationed in Mpumalanga,” Maluleke said.

It was further alleged that the suspect told the victim that he was investigating a case of corruption against him and demanded R50,000 in order to “squash the docket”.

“The matter was reported to the Hawks’ serious corruption investigation [unit] who acted swiftly and arrested two suspects immediately after receiving R20,000.”

The preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were not members of the Hawks, as they allegedly claimed. They were also found to be in possession of fraudulent documents bearing the Hawks logo.

Both arrested suspects were expected to appear in the Marble Hall Magistrates’ Court on Monday, November 23, to face charges related to corruption and impersonating police officials, Maluleke said.

– African News Agency (ANA), editing by Jacques Keet