2011-10-13 14:59
A Free State police officer has been arrested for conspiracy to commit murder, the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) said today.
He allegedly tried to hire a hitman to kill a State witness, ICD spokesperson Moses Dlamini said in a statement.
The officer was arrested last night.
Dlamini said the witness and the police officer were connected to an ICD investigation into the death of Thabo Amos Mofokeng (47) after an assault at the Bethlehem police station in December last year.
The police officer allegedly pushed Mofokeng and his head hit a pillar. Mofokeng died the next morning. The officer failed to report the assault to his superiors.
After an investigation, the ICD established that Mofokeng’s death was not an accident, Dlamini said.
The officer appeared in court on January 18 and was charged with culpable homicide. He was released on bail, and was warned to appear for his trial on October 19.
He was re-arrested this week after the ICD learned of allegations that he was conspiring to have the State witness in the Mofokeng investigation killed.
He was expected to appear in Bethlehem Magistrates Court later today, Dlamini said.
- SAPA
