ADDITIONAL ACCUSED IN COURT FOR CORRUPTION AND IMPERSONATING THE POLICE OFFICER

MPUMALANGA – Gift Themba Mthomboti (32) appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrate Court on Monday, 28 June 2021 after he was arrested by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team for Corruption and impersonating the police officer.

Three unknown suspects allegedly approached a tavern owner at his residence in Nelspruit on 29 June 2020. They introduced themselves as police officers who were investigating a murder at his tavern and further pointed one of them as being a member of the Hawks.  They then informed the victim that he was under arrest, no further details were provided to him regarding the murder incident. The victim’s denial and alibi that he was sick at home and had no knowledge of the incident were ignored. They allegedly demanded R60 000 gratification for them not to carry out the arrest and further threatened him.

The victim submitted to their demands and handed them approximately R60 000 as requested before they left his house. Later in the evening, one of the three so-called police officers came back to the complainant’s home demanded another R60 000 which he allegedly received.  The matter was reported to the Hawks and an investigation was conducted which resulted in the arrest of the first accused Siboniso Ngomane (31) on 7 April 2021. He is the suspect who allegedly came back demanding an additional R60 000. He appeared in court on the same day and he was released on R3000 bail.

On 28 June 2021, Mthomboti (31)  was arrested at Pienaar Msongwaba, as an additional accused on the above matter and appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate court and also released on R3000 bail. The case against the duo was postponed to 26 July 2021 for further investigation.

The Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Major General Zodwa Mokoena is urging the public not to succumb to criminals claiming to be police officers, She further encouraged them to report such incidents to the police.