The corruption and money laundering case against a Bethlehem Liquor Board official, Moruli Gift Poli (53), and a civilian, Allinah Mohapi (30), is set to continue in the Bethlehem Magistrates’ Court today – Monday, 2 December.
They are expected to apply for bail during the hearing today. The duo were remanded in custody following their arrest. Their arrest by the Bethlehem Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team followed probing amid allegations of Poli’s involvement in issuing fraudulent liquor licences. Poli was arrested on Monday, 25 November, four days after Mohapi.
Lt. Col Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the elite crime fighting wing received information on 22 July this year, alleging the fraudulent issuing of liquor licences by officials of the board in question.
He said a victim of this crime came forward with information that includes the payment of R30 000 after she did not received the license.
“It is alleged that during November 2023 and January 2024, the complainant met a liquor board official who informed her that he could arrange a liquor license if she paid an amount of R30 000 to him. The complainant agreed and paid R5 000 in cash. The complainant was given banking details to deposit the outstanding R25 000. The outstanding amount was indeed paid.
“The liquor board official, however, failed to deliver the license as agreed, leading to the complainant reporting the matter to the Hawks,” said Mohobeleli. He said further probing discovered that the R25 000 allegedly received by Mohapi was transferred to the bank account of her accomplice, Poli.
“Further investigation revealed that Mohapi had used her bank account to receive money meant for the Liquor Board official, and later transferred that to Poli. Based on this evidence, the Bethlehem Magistrates’ Court authorised warrants for the arrest of both Mohapi and Poli,” said Mohobeleli.
