CAPE TOWN – A 37-year-old man was arrested after allegedly offering a Philadelphia police sergeant R2 000 to release his seized vehicle.

The suspect approached the sergeant at a petrol station in Philadelphia on Friday 16 October. He was seeking the return of a black Mercedes-Benz Vito held at the SAPS Vehicle Safeguarding Section in Stellenbosch. The vehicle had been seized in connection with a theft case reported in July.

The suspect allegedly offered the officer R2 000. However, the sergeant reported the matter to his station commander and an undercover operation was set up. The suspect was arrested and the bribe money, along with his cellular phone, was seized as exhibits.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Atlantis Magistrates’ Court on Monday 19 October.

Zero tolerance

Western Cape provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Sizakhele Dyantyi commended the officer. She stressed that the arrest sent a clear message that there was no place for corruption within police ranks.

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