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Man
says Tshwane cops stole R500 000 from boot of his car
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A MAN has opened a docket with the SAPS claiming Tshwane metro police
officers robbed him of over half a million rand.
Fahim Essack was heading back to Durban from one of the delivery areas of his rice business at the Beitbridge border with close to R1 million in the boot of his car – cash paid by customers – when the alleged incident occurred. Essack admits he was speeding when he was pulled over by two uniformed Tshwane metro cops in an unmarked vehicle on the N1. He was read his rights and arrested. When the officers searched Essack’s vehicle, they discovered the bags of cash in the boot. “When (the officer) saw there was money, he called his partner. They said they needed to get the other units involved, the money-laundering units,” said Essack. “They were very calm about it, and said they were taking me to the police station.” One officer travelled with Essack while the other drove the police car. But after a few minutes the officer in the other car pulled over and said he had been told by the commanding officer to count the money. While he did so, Essack saw him hide some behind the seat of the car. When confronted, the officer said they wanted to take half the money. “I told him ‘Don’t be ridiculous, it’s not my money, I was just working for the company’. He tried to negotiate with me, but I told him there’s no way,” he said. That’s when one of the officers allegedly threatened him with a firearm. “The other officer takes out a gun, and he tells me ‘now shut the f*** up and do what we asked you, or we will shoot you and throw you into the bush’. “Under those circumstances I had no option, I had to get into my car and drive off.” He noted the licence plate of the vehicle and went to the police. Tshwane metro police spokesman Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba confirmed that the licence plate number The Star gave him did belong to one of their vehicles. He also confirmed that the vehicle had been on highway duty on Tuesday night. By Theresa Taylor - theresa.taylor@inl.co.za The Star 09/01/14 Early Edition |
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Crimes of the South African Police Service
