The Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court has granted four law enforcement officers bail of R5000 each for the alleged theft of R1-million.
Two Hawks Serious Commercial Crimes unit officers, Tefo Maimane and Eric Melaphi, appeared alongside two SAPS officers, Khumbulo Gadivhane and Sydwell Nkuna.
The four are accused of allegedly stealing money from the driver of a car they stopped in Norwood in September. He was on his way to deposit the company money.
The state did not oppose bail for the four accused by stating that they were not a flight risk and that they had no previous convictions.
The court heard that the driver had just exchanged 115 000 US dollars into rands when he was stopped by the police.
The court also heard how, after talking to the driver’s boss on the phone who confirmed that the money was legitimate, the officers then allegedly took R1 million from the driver and gave him R500 000.
They apparently told him that they will return the entire remaining amount once the company owner was back in the country from the DRC. But this did not happen.
All four are out on bail. The matter has been postponed to February 7 for further investigation.
