File
A Gauteng policeman, his mother, and four other suspects have been arrested for human trafficking and bribery.
They were arrested on Tuesday after 45 undocumented Ethiopians were rescued from a house in Springs, just east of Johannesburg.
Police spokesperson, Brigadier Brenda Muridili, said the victims, aged between 23 and 50, were rescued by a multi-disciplinary team established as part of an ongoing investigation following the January arrest of another Ethiopian national, Abdi Mohammed Adri.
He was charged with human trafficking after five undocumented Ethiopian nationals were rescued from a house in Brixton where they were kept against their will.
Muridili said Adri has since appeared in court and is currently out on bail ahead of his next court appearance on the 28th of February.
She said during the ongoing investigation into the case, information led the team to a house in Welgedacht in Springs where the six, including the Public Order Police Unit member, were arrested.
Muridili said one of the suspects will also face a charge of bribery after allegedly offering the team over R300 000 not to arrest them.
She said police also seized a shotgun with SAPS-issued ammunition in one of the rented rooms and on searching the room of the Pops member, more SAPS issue ammunition was found.
Muridili said the suspects were expected to appear at the Brixton and Springs Magistrates Courts on Friday.
They face charges that include human trafficking, the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, bribery, and defeating the ends of justice.
