21 police officers dismissed for various crimes in Welkom
ANA
Twenty one police officers
have been dismissed and are set to appear in the Welkom Magistrate’s Court
later this year on various charges including corruption, theft and defeating
the ends of justice, Free State police have said.
Police spokesperson Colonel
Motantsi Makhele said the officers were dismissed internally on 30 July.
“They will appear
individually from September till November 2015.”
Makhele said the officers
were arrested after the police received information about illegal activities
involving gold-dust.
“One captain, four warrant
officers, two sergeants, twelve constables, one reservist constable and one
Public Service Act employee (messenger) were dismissed from the South African
Police Service (SAPS) after their involvement in offences ranging from the
contravening the Precious Metals Act, defeating the ends of justice, theft,
corruption and money laundering in Welkom.”
The members, from different
units in Welkom and Thabong, were arrested by the Hawks last year after months
of intense investigation, Makhele said.
“During a disciplinary
hearing the members were dismissed on charges of committing common law or
statutory offences, conducting themselves in an improper, disgraceful and
unacceptable manner; prejudice the administration, discipline or efficiency of
a department, office or institution of the State and contravening the
prescribed Code of Conduct for the Service or the Public Service which may be
applicable to him.”
They were all dismissed for
departmental and criminal offences which they had committed in September last
year.
