Two LEAP officers caught accepting R3 000 bribe in undercover sting

Two law enforcement officers have been arrested for corruption worth R3000 involving the bribery of a driver during an undercover operation.

According to Law Enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason, the driver was under the influence of alcohol when he was asked to stop along Voortrekker Road in Parow on January 13.

“The City can confirm the arrest of two LEAP officers in Parow last night during a SAPS undercover operation,” Dyason said. “It is alleged that on the evening of Monday, 5 January, the officers pulled over a motorist in Parow who was also found to be under the influence of alcohol. The motorist further could not produce a driver’s licence and was driving an unlicensed motor vehicle. The officers allegedly demanded a R3 000 bribe, and when he couldn’t pay, arranged to collect the money later.”

Dyason added that the complainant approached the SAPS anti-corruption unit, who then arrested the two officers during the handover last night. “This incident is incredibly disappointing, but the City will not tolerate such behaviour, and we’ll cooperate closely with SAPS in their investigation,” he stated. “The officers will be served with suspension notices when they are released from custody.”

Police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala said the officers had apparently made a video of the driver following the bribery and will face charges. “The duo stopped a drunk driver on Voortrekker Road, Parow on Monday,  January 5. Instead of arresting him for drunken driving, they opted for a R3 000 bribe,” Gwala said.

“The suspects took a video of the driver and saved their contacts on his cellular telephone, informing him that he could pay at a later stage. The driver approached the corruption unit detectives, who instructed him to play along as they conducted an undercover trap operation.

“The officers gave the driver marked notes to hand over to the two suspects at their agreed meeting point. The suspects showed up, deleted the video in front of the driver, and accepted the marked notes.”

Gwala said both suspects were arrested on the spot, and their cellular telephones, along with the marked money, were seized as evidence. “They will make their first court appearance in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court once they have been charged,” Gwala detailed. “SAPS encourages victims of corruption to expose corrupters by coming forward so that an investigation can be initiated.”

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