The Free State Hawks` Serious Corruption Investigation unit is continuing its investigation into police officers’ involvement in missing cash-in-transit money. The money in question was recovered during an armed robbery which occurred early February last year.
Further probing has yielded the arrest of five officers pertaining the missing R1 million recovered after a heist on the R57 road on 4 February last year. The matter against the five suspects was remanded to 3 August during their appearance in the Sasolburg Magistrates’ Court on Friday (30/06), a day after their arrest.
The suspects are Sgts Morena Caroll Semase (38) and Solomon Ramoisa Rasentsoere (42), WO Sello Edward Moopela (50), Consts. Petrus Zwelonakele Mphethu (42) and Seponono Benedict Mohoang (40). They are currently out on bail of R2 000 each, granted during their appearance last Friday.
They are facing charges of theft, defeating the ends of justice, and money laundering. A charge of breaking an oath of office could also be added. The five suspects are attached to the police’s K9 units in Kroonstad, and Zamdela in Sasolburg.
Lt. Col Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson of the Hawks, said the suspects allegedly took the R1 million which they had recovered from members of the public, who had helped themselves to this cash during a cash-in-transit heist. Mohobeleli said, according to findings, the suspects allegedly took the money instead of registering it into the police store.
He said a group of robbers took an undisclosed amount of money from a G4S cash delivery vehicle and then fled in a white Toyota Fortuner and a red Hyundai SUV.
A police officer attached to the Sedibeng Tactical Response Team (TRT) was killed and three security officials were wounded in a crossfire involving the armed robbers, who are still on the run.
