Four senior current and former police officers, suspected of teaming up with two businessmen, appeared at the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court to answer charges of alleged fraud, corruption, and theft involving a US$3.6 million tender on Wednesday.
The suspected thieves and fraudsters were arrested two days ago in connection with the multi-million-dollar police tender awarded in 2016.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate (NPA ID) spokesperson, Sindisiwe Seboka, the six were arrested in Durban, Bloemfontein, Pretoria and at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
“The suspects are a former Lieutenant-General, a serving Lieutenant-Colonel and two serving Majors-General from Pretoria and Bloemfontein, and two Durban businessmen,” Seboka said, without naming them.
“The arrests are a result of a joint stakeholder cooperation between the Investigating Directorate (ID) and IPID [Independent Police Investigative Directorate] secondments assigned to the ID,” she said.
Seboka said the arrests were a further indication of the ID’s steadfast approach to rooting out corruption at all levels.
“The arrest of these very high ranking and seasoned police officials endorses the ID’s commitment to dealing with corruption and State Capture regardless of where it manifests itself,” the spokesperson said.
The suspects are expected to take a plea during the court appearance, she added.
NM/as/APA