A policeman, who allegedly took a R500 bribe to make a case “disappear”, was nabbed by the Hawks after the accused found out the constable “did nothing” to get her out of jail because the complainant had voluntarily withdrawn the matter.
The directorate for priority crime investigations – better known as the Hawks – on Friday said the constable was investigating a complaint of “assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after a man was stabbed, allegedly by his girlfriend following a quarrel in Boitekong, North West earlier this month”.
The constable allegedly contacted the suspect’s mother and demanded R500 so that he could release the daughter and have her case “destroyed”.
The Hawks said: “The money was paid to the constable via money market. The complainant, who was the suspect’s boyfriend, voluntarily withdrew the case without any assistance or pursuance from the constable”.
But when the accused was released she found out that her mother had paid the constable to get her out of jail.
“Upon her release the suspect learnt of the money paid to the constable and demanded a refund as he did not do anything to help her get out police holding cells,” said the Hawks.
“The matter was then reported to the Hawks who investigated and arrested the officer. He was released on free bail when he appeared at the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday and his case was postponed to 1 April 2016”.
– African News Agency (ANA)
