Cop held for theft back at work
18 November 2011
Hendrick Mphande mphandeh@avusa.co.za
A POLICE sergeant arrested two months ago after he allegedly stole jewellery worth more than R200000 from a woman who had tried to commit suicide is back at work at the Kabega Park police station.
Sergeant Reece Dhanda, 36, who is facing a charge of theft, reported for duty yesterday. His service pistol, which was confiscated in September when he was arrested, was handed back to him.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Sibongile Soci said yesterday afternoon she was still waiting for a response from the relevant department regarding Dhanda’s reinstatement.
Irate police officers at Kabega Park, who did not want to be named, were furious that he was back at work.
“We noticed this morning that he is back on duty serving the community he is alleged to have stolen from. We have a feeling someone did not do his job properly. This guy needs to be suspended,” one officer said.
The state alleges that on August 17, two police constables and Dhanda were dispatched to a house in Sherwood following a frantic call from Lifeline to attend to a woman in her 50s who had taken an overdose of tablets.
When they arrived at the house, a jewellery box containing two rings – valued at R128000 and at R110000 – sat on top of a dressing table.
The rings were normally kept locked away and had only been taken out because the woman and her husband wanted to send them to their daughter in Gauteng. The theft was only discovered after the woman was discharged from hospital.
All three officers initially denied their involvement. They were then booked to undergo polygraph tests, but before the process could take place one of them decided to talk. He alleged he had seen Dhanda putting the items in his pocket. The two constables passed the polygraph test but Dhanda allegedly refused to take it.
He was arrested on September 19 and is out on R1000 bail. Two days later, the rings were mysteriously found in the woman’s postbox.
Another police officer, who also did not want to be named, said it was unfair that Dhanda had not been suspended. “This morning, he was working together with the people supposed to be witnesses in the case. He can easily influence the witnesses. Something needs to be done quickly.”
Dhanda is due to appear in court on January 27.
http://www.peherald.com/news/article/3659
