Heist to cost SA Police R40 million
July 14 2013 at 09:57am
By SAPA
By SAPA
The police have been ordered to repay
nearly R40 million to a British company after money kept at a police station
was stolen, the Sunday Times reported.
“The SA Police Service intends to
comply with the court order. However it should be noted that the SAPS has
applied for leave to appeal certain parts of the judgment,” police spokesman
Lt-Gen Solomon Makgale was quoted by the newspaper on Sunday.
He said the police were still awaiting
a court date for the appeal.
The order for repayment was made in the
High Court in Johannesburg earlier this year and stems from a heist at OR Tambo
airport in 2006.
Six men were convicted in 2012 of
stealing a consignment of banknotes worth R100 million from an aircraft that
arrived from London.
The robbers were subsequently caught
and the money recovered. The money was then taken to the Benoni police station
to be kept in a safe until an audit was conducted. However, R14 million of it
was subsequently stolen.
Judge Nigel Willis ruled that the theft
of the money had to be a “simulated break in”.
“It is quite clear that this money
could only have been taken by police officers. Access to the safe to remove
sums of money could only have been achieved through the inside knowledge of
police officers.”
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa was
subsequently ordered to pay an amount of just under R40 million - which took
into account seven years' interest and legal fees.
The court also ruled that national
police commissioner Riah Phiyega must relook the theft investigation whereby
three officers were originally suspended and charged with the theft, but later
had the charges withdrawn.
“Due to a lack of evidence... both the
criminal and internal disciplinary charges were withdrawn against the suspects.
“General Riah Phiyega is dissatisfied
with the manner in which the matter was handled and has instructed that it be
revisited immediately,” Makgale said. -Sapa
