Traffic Officers Arrested For Following Driver Home To Extort R3 000 Bribe
Two Tshwane metro police officers (TMPD) are facing suspension. The two are behind bars for allegedly extorting a bribe from a motorist.
According to Tshwane MMC for Community Safety Grandi Theunissen, the two face charges of harassment and extortion for allegedly soliciting a bribe from a resident.
The female resident of Pretoria East filed a harassment and extortion case against the officers.
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She felt unsafe during her encounter with the TMPD. She claimed she was intimidated to the point of paying a bribe to the two officers, according to Theunissen.
The officers had tracked her down to her home in Erasmuskloof. They allegedly forced her to accompany them to an ATM to withdraw R3 000 cash, according to Theunissen. “She said the ATM was out of order and they then decided to rather use a money transfer service.”
The resident reported the incident to the municipality. Theunissen stated that he immediately reached out to her for assistance and to ensure that action is taken.
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Tshwane has begun the necessary internal processes to suspend the two officers pending the outcome of the criminal case.
Theunissen stressed that the City of Tshwane has a zero-tolerance policy for bribery, corruption, or any illegal acts committed by its officers.
“Incidents of corruption will be dealt with decisively without fear as we root out those who abuse their power and fail to uphold their oaths of office. I will ensure that the matter is properly investigated and dealt with accordingly internally.”
According to Theunissen, the City of Tshwane is currently working on a program to combat lawlessness, corruption, and bribery among its officers in order to deal with those who extort residents.
