BLOEMFONTEIN: 21 August 2023 - Three police officers that were arrested will remain in custody until their formal bail application next week in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on charges of corruption, extortion, kidnapping and defeating the course of justice. The trio, two sergeants and a constable, from Bloemspruit, Parkroad and the K9 Unit, were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Unit on 17 August 2023 for an incident that allegedly took place in December last year.
It is alleged that the three were on patrol duties on 14 December 2022 when they stopped a truck with a trailor on the N1 south, just outside of Bloemfontein. They demanded money from the owner of the truck in order not to arrest his son. The members left and went to a mall in the south of Bloemfontein. When they were unsuccessful, they chased down the truck and about 20 kilometres from Verkeerdevlei Toll Plaza they stopped the truck again.
This time, they allegedly took the driver with them in a police vehicle and went to three spots to withdraw money. They allegedly managed to withdraw R2000 before they took the driver back to the truck. The three, aged 30, 43, and 45 respectively, appeared in court today and the case was postponed. They will stay in custody until they appear in court on Monday 28 August 2023.
The Provincial Commissioner of the Police in the Free State, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, said receiving news about members being on the wrong side of the law is not good for the image of the organisation. "Members of the police who cross the line will not receive any special treatment in the course of Justice as they will receive the same treatment as any other accused," said Lt Gen Motswenyane.