DEALESVILLE – A 30-year-old police constable and a 32-year-old civilian based in the Free State town of Dealesville are set to appear before the Dealesville Magistrate’s Court today – Tuesday, facing four counts of corruption. This followed their arrest by the Free State Police Anti-Corruption Unit (FSPACU) yesterday.

Lt Col Thabo Covane, provincial police spokesperson, said the female officer is attached to Dealesville Crime Prevention while the civilian, a male, is the Youth League chairperson in the area. He said the pair’s arrests came after the execution of a warrant of arrest and were based on prima facie evidence of wrongdoing. Covane said the suspects allegedly colluded to commit corruption targeting foreign-owned shopkeepers in the town.

“Their arrests follow an investigation into allegations that on 27 May the constable and the co-accused visited several local foreign-owned spaza shops in Dealesville. They allegedly demanded donations under false pretenses, claiming that police officers from Bloemfontein were deployed in the town to protect foreign-owned shops from looting and required food,” said Covane. He said while one shop owner reportedly provided a donation of chicken and soda, other shopkeepers refused to comply without an official letter from the station commander.

Covane said the alleged solicitation incident was reported to a passing police officer, leading to an investigation. “Subsequent investigations revealed that the station commander had no knowledge of the solicitation. It was further discovered that the collected food was taken to a private residence where it was prepared and consumed by the suspects. The South African Police Service in the Free State maintains a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption within its ranks,” said Covane.

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