Three more arrested and two others rearrested for perjury in the R56 million saps vehicle branding case

A joint operational plan to address corruption within the ranks of the South African Police Service (SAPS) continues to yield positive results as three more persons of interest were arrested in the R56 million tender fraud case.
The latest arrests brings to total the number of people arrested in the multi-million rand SAPS vehicle branding and marking case to forty-one (41).
On Friday, 25 September 2020, the Special National Anti-Corruption Task Team assigned to the Investigating Directorate of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) arrested three more people and two others have since been re-arrested for perjury.
Those arrested on Friday include a Colonel, an administrative employee within the SAPS Supply Chain Management (SCM) Division and three civilians. All five face a range of charges including fraud, corruption, money laundering and perjury.
Amongst the three civilians two of the suspects were initially arrested in June and appeared before the Pretoria Magistrates court where they were released on Five-thousand-rand bail each along with the first batch of accused arrested in the same month.
The pair has been re-arrested after due diligence was done by the work of the Investigating Directorate who uncovered that the pair lied under oath about not having previous convictions. They have been rearrested and each face an additional charge of perjury, fraud and failure to disclose previous convictions in contravention of section 60(11B) of the Criminal Procedure Act.
The possibility of more arrests in this case cannot be ruled out.
“The arrest of our own must send a stern warning to all law enforcement officers to steer clear of criminality and corruption at all times. The latest arrests is indicative that we are committed in fighting corruption within our ranks. Well done to the team in place that continue to root out corruption without fear or favour “, said SAPS National Commissioner, General Khehla John Sitole.
All five will appear before the Pretoria Magistrates court on Monday 28 September 2020 for a formal bail application.
“The Investigating Directorate is intensifying efforts to get those who orchestrated and partook in looting the system to account “said Advocate Hermione Cronje – the head of the Investigating Directorate.
Meanwhile, both the SAPS and Investigative Directorate are pleased with the outcome of the Labour Court to dismiss with costs, the urgent application that was brought by seven of the accused through their Labour union POPCRU in deeming the internal disciplinary processes that are currently in progress within the SAPS, as unfair Labour practices. The court dismissed the application with costs as it stated that it doesn’t have jurisdiction to intervene in incomplete disciplinary proceedings.

Source: South African Police Service

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