02 Jun 2008
Riot Hlatshwayo
GOTCHA: Captain Leonard Hlathi of the Mpumalanga police organised crime unit escorts Captain Lana Basson to a waiting police car shortly after her arrest on Friday. Pic. Riot Hlatshwayo. 28/05/08. © Sowetan.
Riot Hlatshwayo
Nine people, including six members of the South African Police Service, were arrested on fraud charges involving more than R2,5million.
They were arrested by the Mpumalanga organised crime unit on Friday after a year-long investigation into their alleged fraudulent activities.
Two of those arrested were husband and wife, Jacobus Petrus Basson, 38, and Captain Lana Basson, 38.
Captain Basson is attached to the police's stolen vehicles exhibit centre in Nelspruit, while her husband is a former policeman.
Lana was arrested in full view of her colleagues, some of whom peered through windows as she was led away by members of the organised crime police unit.
She was handcuffed and her face covered with a cloth before police headed for her home to arrest her husband.
But her husband was not at home and the police instructed his wife to call him and tell him to come home urgently, which he did minutes later.
"We have a warrant of arrest that we are happy to execute against you right away. You are now under arrest on charges of fraud and you have the right to remain silent if you so wish," police organised crime unit head Superintendent Obed Ngwenya told Jacobus before handcuffing him.
The police later arrested seven others who are also alleged to have been involved in the irregular procurement of contracts.
All the suspects appeared in the Nelspruit magistrate's court, where they were released on warning pending their next court appearance on June 21.
The other accused are: former Inspector Izaak Bester, 39, logistics clerical assistant Zelda Badenhorst, 44, Nelspruit police station accounting officer Lynette Maria Roussouw, 51, KaBokweni police financial clerk Charles Thomas Erasmus, 37, Inspector Vicky van Wyk, 34, Lydenburg police supply chain management clerk Riaan Kruger, 35, and another unidentified suspect.
"The investigations into the allegations that led to the arrest of the suspects started in April last year," Captain Leonard Hlathi said yesterday.
"This was a syndicate that has cost the police service more than R2,5million and we believe we have made a breakthrough."
www.sowetanlive.co.za/.../06/02/policemen-bust
