Update:
Police spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut has confirmed that an eighth police officer, along with three civilians have been arrested and brought in for questioning.
‘The arrest of seven Public Order Police officials on Sunday evening, 6 October 2024, for extortion at two Chinese shops in Milnerton, led to the arrest of an eighth police officer, also stationed at Public Order Police late last night in Harare,’ said Traut.
‘Members of Provincial Detectives also took three civilians, one male – who is a former police officer – and two females in for questioning relating to the same incident.’
Traut added that while the investigation continues, detectives are preparing the case dockets for the suspects’ court appearance tomorrow where they will face charges of extortion, business robbery and corruption.
Seven police officers were arrested for allegedly extorting money from two shops owned by Chinese nationals in Milnerton, Cape Town, Western Cape, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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Colonel Andrè Traut, the regional police spokesperson, confirmed the officers’ arrests.
‘It is alleged that the members, accompanied by a suspect in civilian clothes, took an undisclosed amount of cash from the two shops, allegedly as protection money,’ he explained
‘The incident was reported to police and members of the Anti-Corruption Unit and Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit detectives acted swiftly and apprehended the suspects last night in Milnerton while they were on duty. As the investigation unfolds, leads are pursued to identify more suspects who could also be arrested,’ said Traut.
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According to Traut, police personnel in the age range of 24 to 43 are scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.
Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, the commissioner of the Western Cape Police, denounced police participation in extortion-related offences.
According to Patekile, dishonest police officers have no place in the South African Police Service (SAPAS) and would be disciplined in line with SAPS rules.
In an unconnected incident, Moorreesburg police officers responded to information regarding drug trafficking on the N7 Highway between Malmesbury and Moorreesburg.
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The members operationalised the information and headed to the highway, where they observed the suspicious vehicle near Bottelfontein Road, heading towards Moorreesburg.
‘The police members instructed the driver of the motor vehicle to stop upon which they searched the five occupants and the motor vehicle, resulting in the recovery of mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of R20 000,’ added Traut. ‘They detained the five suspects between the ages 30 and 40 on a charge of dealing in drugs.’
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