Rogue Cops Make History.
November 8 2011
Inspector Victor Mpho and Captain Ratsheki Landro Mokgosani.
Once they pledged themselves to uphold and enforce the law, and looked forward to a state pension – now three senior police officers will end their years in jail.
On Monday, the West Rand Organised Crime unit head, Senior Superintendent Petros Dumisani Jwara, 47, was sentenced to an effective 25 years in jail for operating a drug syndicate for more than five years.
Jwara’s co-accused, Inspector Victor Mpho Jwili, 42, and Captain Ratsheki Landro Mokgosani, 42, were effectively ordered to sit for 22 and 20 years respectively for their role in managing and maintaining the syndicate operations.
In convicting and sentencing the three officers, Judge Nico Coetzee made history as he became the first judicial officer to send local police officers to jail for racketeering.
The three were convicted on October 17. In his ruling, Judge Coetzee found that the officers – led by Jwara, who was also their unit commander – illegally intercepted drugs at OR Tambo International Airport, and confiscated some from dealers under the pretext of conducting criminal investigations.
These drugs were then sold to people in Hillbrow, Pretoria and other parts of Gauteng.
West Rand Organised Crime Unit head Senior Superintendent Dumisani Jwara, at his arrest in 2009.
“The fact that the accused were police officers adds to the seriousness of the crime. They were high-ranking police officials, particularly (Jwara and Mokgosani). They were highly regarded by their colleagues, who held them in a position of trust. But they abused that trust,” Judge Coetzee said.
“The crimes committed by the accused were on a continuous basis. They were well planned, and executed with military precision,” Judge Coetzee said.
“You were appointed in a special section of the SAPS to combat crime. But you used state resources to commit crime.”
Jwara received an additional 55 years for other charges relating to drug dealing, fraud, defeating the ends of justice, theft and attempted theft. Jwara must serve 25 years of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Jwili was also given an additional 55 years. Mokgosani received an additional 32 years in jail.
The judge found that Mokgosani joined the syndicate only in May 2007.
Jwili and Mokgosani must serve 22 and 20 years respectively before they are eligible for parole.
Convicting all of them for racketeering, Judge Coetzee accepted the stipulations of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act that organised crime, money laundering and criminal gang activity present a danger to public order and safety. He also accepted that organised crime posed an international security threat. Crime intelligence unit in complete disarray
