Cape Town — Three South African Police Services (SAPS) officers who allegedly stole money after responding to a bombing incident in April, were released on R3000 bail on Thursday.
The officers were identified as Captain Lephalala (47), a Warrant Officer Ngwenya (33) and Sergeant Sithole (37), all three members of the Explosives Section operating from Colbyn, received their bail after they were arrested on charges of theft and defeating the ends of justice.They were arrested by the members of Serious Corruption Investigation on 06 June 2024, a police statement said.
“Their court appearance is consequent to their arrest this morning, 6 June 2024 following a bombing incident that occurred on the 15 April 2024 at filing station in Soshanguve. The trio was allegedly seen on CCVTV surveillance footage purportedly putting notes and coins into a bag.” police spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale, said.
Mogale said that one of the suspects was seen taking the bag to their state vehicle before they left the scene. Investigation revealed that the money from the bag was never handed in as evidence at the SAP 13. The trio is expected to make their next appearance on the 07 August 2024 at the Pretoria North Magistrates Court.
According to IOL, this follows an arrest of nine people in Gauteng, that also included a police officer, who attempted a robbery of a Mr Price store in Mpumalanga.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, saw the alleged perpetrators make off with a significant cache of cellphones and cash. Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said the suspects were tracked to a safe house in Springs, Ekurhuleni, where they were taken into custody.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
