FORMER POLICE OFFICERS FOUND GUILTY OF CORRUPTION
NORTHERN CAPE – Upington Regional Court convicted and sentenced two former police officers to an effective prison sentence on Tuesday, 12 September 2023. The duo were found guilty of Corruption.
On 17 April 2021, during a Covid- pandemic, Sergeant Stanley Beukes (37) and Constable Thapelo Semamai (26) stopped a female pensioner driving around in the Upington area. The two officers demanded a Covid-19 travel permit. The senior citizen did not have the permit and officials demanded R200 gratification so that they can issue her with a permit. A payment of R200 was made as agreed and the complainant thereafter visited Upington police station to open a case of corruption. The Upington based Hawk’s Serious Organised Crime Investigation team successfully investigated the matter resulting on the conviction of the accused.
The employer, South African Police Services subjected both employees to an internal disciplinary process with the outcome being a dismissal of both officers. The court sentenced the duo to effective 24 months imprisonment.
The Acting Provincial Head of Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Brigadier Prince Mashimbye expressed his satisfaction with the conviction.. “If we are to win this fight, we have to start cleaning our house first” concluded Brigadier Prince Mashimbye.
