Police Sergeant Arrested For Accepting R2470 Bribe
A 45-year-old Sergeant Thomas Moleme was granted R7000.00 bail upon appearance in the Schweizer-Reneke Magistrates’ Court today for alleged corruption. He is expected to reappear before the court on Wednesday, 27 September 2023.
Reports suggest that the member who was accompanied by a person whom he introduced as a Captain, arrested a suspect for assault in May this year. On their way to the police station, the pair demanded R1000.00 on behalf of the assault victim on condition that the latter withdraws the case.
The suspect consented to the demand and gave R1000.00 to the duo. The Sergeant and his companion further demanded R1000.00 each from the suspect. As a result, they were given R2 470.00, and they released the suspect.
However, Moleme apparently kept on harassing and demanding money from the suspect. Subsequent to reporting of the matter to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit (ACIU), the member was arrested in Schweizer-Reneke on Tuesday afternoon, 29 August 2023, during an undercover operation by the ACIU and Anti-Gang Unit.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena welcomed the arrest and subsequent appearance of the accused in court. He said that dishonesty cannot be tolerated and that any South African Police Service (SAPS) employee who acts in an unethical manner, will be brought to book to face the full might of the law.
Sergeant Thomas Moleme, a 45-year-old member of the South African Police Service (SAPS), appeared in the Schweizer-Reneke Magistrates’ Court today for alleged corruption. The court granted him R7000.00 bail, and he is expected to reappear on Wednesday, 27 September 2023.
According to reports, Moleme, accompanied by a person claiming to be a Captain, arrested a suspect for assault in May this year. During their journey to the police station, the pair demanded R1000.00 on behalf of the assault victim, with the condition that the victim withdraw the case.
The suspect gave in to the demand and handed over R1000.00 to the duo. However, the Sergeant and his companion did not stop there. They proceeded to demand R1000.00 each from the suspect, resulting in a total of R2 470.00 being given to them. Once the money was received, they released the suspect.
Unfortunately, the harassment did not end there. Moleme continued to demand money from the suspect, causing the victim to report the matter to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit (ACIU).
Working in collaboration with the Anti-Gang Unit, the ACIU conducted an undercover operation on Tuesday afternoon, 29 August 2023, in Schweizer-Reneke. During this operation, Moleme was arrested.
Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, the Provincial Police Commissioner, welcomed the arrest and subsequent appearance of Sergeant Thomas Moleme in court. He expressed his firm stance against dishonesty and emphasized that any SAPS employee who acts in an unethical manner will face the full extent of the law.
