Police officer convicted of corruption
The Nelspruit Regional Court sentenced former Const Steven Whiskey
Shabangu to three years’ imprisonment on November 11.
Thobile
Mlangeni | 16 November 2013 12:09
KABOKWENI
– Crime does not pay, no matter how insignificant is seems!
This was
proved in a corruption case levelled against a 37-year-old police official of
KaBokweni police station who had been convicted and found guilty of accepting a
R500 bribe.
The
Nelspruit Regional Court sentenced former Const Steven Whiskey Shabangu to
three years’ imprisonment on November 11.
This
follows an incident at Themba Hospital on October 13, 2010 when Shabangu
unlawfully agreed to accept a R1 000 from Ms Trudy Richards for the release her
brother, Mr George Tony Richards, who was at the hospital under police guard.
Evidence
brought in court is that the complainant in the case reported the matter to his
superiors at the KaBokweni police. She also called him while at the police and
their conversation was recorded.
A trap
was then set up for Shabangu and he was arrested by his colleagues while
accepting half of the said amount. The R500 was also confiscated. It was heard
in court that he had lost his job at the police sector and stood no chance of
ever being employed in any government institution in future.
“He had
started selling fruit and vegetables to take care of his family, including his
sick 95-year-old grandmother and 18-year-old sister,” said his defence lawyer.
“There is
no loss to the witness because the R500 he was arrested for accepting is still
with the police, it is my humble submission that the accused is a non-violent,
first offender and this court should consider a lenient sentence’ his lawyer
said in his plea for a lesser sentence.
However,
his plea was strongly opposed by the state prosecutor, Mr Simon Mamabolo, who
mentioned that one reason why people resolve to take the law into their own
hands is because they have lost confidence in the police.
‘What had
been lost here is the confidence in the police unit. Corruption had become a
norm in the country and courts should send a strong message that it is
unacceptable and won’t be tolerated,’ stated Mamabolo.
When
passing judgement, magistrate Mr André Geldenhuys said, ‘This is a serious
crime and such crimes are now common in the country, members of the police
should be honest and conduct themselves in an impeccable manner. This includes
traffic officials who accept bribes hidden in drivers ID books,’ he said.
“You
deserved your dismissal from the force and I am determined to end corruption in
all government department, there is no mercy for this crime,’ he said before
sentencing. Shabangu has to serve a third of his sentence in prison before he
can be considered for parole.
