Mpumalanga – Former Traffic Officer, Meshack Masenjwa (37), was found guilty and sentenced to five years direct imprisonment by the Middelburg Regional Court on Wednesday, October 26 for Corruption, Police confirmed in a statement.
The sentence came after the former officer was arrested on February 6, 2019, during the operation ‘Conny Project’.
According to South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, Police received Information about a traffic officer who had been demanding money from motorists for contravening the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 along the N4 National road.
“The entrapment and employment of an agent was operationalised and executed in terms of Section 252A. On the day in question, while the agent was driving next to Wonderfontein was stopped by a Traffic official who demanded a bribe of R100-00 from the agent and it was given to him and the transaction was recorded,” Sekgotodi said.
“The matter was brought before court and a warrant of arrest was authorised and executed on 24 June 2019 whereby the accused was arrested and charged for corruption,” the Captain added.
The investigation was carried forward by the Hawks’ Nelspruit-based Serious Corruption Investigation until the accused was sentenced on Wednesday.
“The Provincial Head of the Directorate For Priority Crime Investigation Major General Zodwa Mokoena welcomed the sentence and appreciated the investigation and Prosecution team for securing such sentence. She further warned those corrupt officials that their days are numbered,” Sekgotodi concluded.
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
