Pretoria - A police constable, paramedic and former South African Revenue Service (SARS) employee have been arrested by the Hawks.
The trio from Musina in Limpopo was arrested on Wednesday for various charges ranging from defeating the ends of justice, money laundering and corruption after being in cahoots with cigarette smugglers.
It is alleged the three suspects accepted bribes from the suspects, and thereafter escorted the vehicles carrying illicit cigarettes using police marked vehicles and ambulances, ensuring the suspects evaded arrest by other law enforcement agencies.
The arrest of the three suspects, aged between 35 and 43, takes the total number of suspects arrested to six. Last week, Constables Azwindini Ramphambani (35), Thina Makhokha (35) and Prince Netshiavha (36) from Musina and Muswodi SAPS respectively, were arrested for the same case.
They are out on R2 000 bail each and will be appearing before the Musina Magistrate’s Court in November.
National Head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General Mthandazo Ntlemeza, said his unit will stop at nothing in its efforts to root out serious corruption in the SAPS or any government sector.
He said South Africa deserved to be served by professional, law abiding police officers, whose mandate it was to create a safe and secure country for all.
“We have been working on this operation for some time gathering intelligence against the suspects. We are the custodian of law and order, and we cannot afford to fail our people, who rely on us for safety and security.
“There is no room for corruption in the SAPS, government or private institutions. We are continuing with this operation and I am sure we are still going to root out police officers and other officials with criminal mind sets,” said Ntlemeza. – SAnews.gov.za
