Cop sought money for drinks
By Sapa | Jun 21, 2013 |
A Western Cape constable
tried to extort liquor money from a taxi driver allegedly caught with
perlemoen, the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court heard.
Too little
Constable MjatyaBukani, 35, and reservist NontandoMhlabeni, 40, pleaded
not guilty to a main count of extortion, and an alternative count of
corruption.
According to the charge sheet, they were on patrol on December 8, 2010,
when they searched a taxi driven by WananaGwadino, and allegedly found a bag of
perlemoen.
Prosecutor Xolile Jonas said while taking Gwadino and his two passengers
to the Khayelitsha police station, Bukani demanded money for liquor from the
driver if he wanted his taxi back.
Gwadino first offered Bukani R300, which was "too little", and
then R500, which Bukani accepted.
Bukani then allegedly assured Gwadino that if he paid the R500, he would
not be arrested and the confiscated perlemoen and the taxi would be returned to
him.
However, at the police station, Bukani allegedly said the R500 was not
enough, and he was offered an additional R500.
Gwadino was then allegedly taken to an ATM to withdraw the second R500.
According to the charge sheet, Gwadino and his two passengers were
locked in a holding cell, and later released without being charged.
Andre Pienaar, for the defence, told the court Bukani was on patrol on
the day, when a Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta) taxi driver
complained Gwadino was encroaching on his route, in violation of the Road
Traffic Act.
"My client advised the driver to complain at the police station,
and not to himself, and my client then continued with his patrol," Pienaar
said.
Later that day, Bukani saw Gwadino's taxi on the road, and confronted
him. Bukani told him to report to the police station.
When Bukani arrived at the police station, Gwandino and his passengers
were locked in a cell, but no one at the charge office knew what the charges
were.
Pienaar said Bukani went to the Codeta taxi rank to ask what Gwadino had
done wrong. He was asked to merely warn the errant driver not to encroach on
the Codeta route and not charge him. Gwadino was released accordingly.
Pienaar said Bukani was later informed, as he booked off duty, that a
bag of perlemoen had been found in his patrol vehicle.
Bukani denied any knowledge of the perlemoen, saying the entire incident
had to do with the unlawful encroachment on the Codeta taxi route.
The trial continues.
