Hawks swoop on
three of their own
2015-08-25 17:45
Jenni Evans, News24
Johannesburg
- Three members of the Free State Hawks were arrested on charges of
stealing R250 000 during a search without a warrant, Hawks spokesperson
Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said on Tuesday.
He said a house had been searched in
Welkom with a search warrant as part of an investigation into gold mining
equipment, but the officers left empty handed after not finding anything
incriminating.
Later, a 59-year-old captain and two
constables, aged 37 and 39 respectively, all stationed at Thabong Directorate
for Priority Crimes, allegedly went back to the house without a warrant.
"They demanded to search the vehicle
without a search warrant and allegedly found the cash in the door panel,"
said Mulaudzi.
"The officers then demanded to leave
with the money without counting it, but the complainant refused until they
counted the money, and they left with it inside a sealed exhibit bag."
However, police received a complaint about
it, and found the money had not been booked in at any police station. An
investigation was launched.
The three officers were arrested and would
appear in the Welkom Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Last year in September, 21 police officers
and an administration clerk, also from the Thabong police, were arrested on
charges ranging from money laundering to violating the Precious Metals Act.
Mulaudzi said that case was still
underway.
