FOREIGN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO DIRECT IMPRISONMENT FOR BRIBING POLICE

26 June 2025

FOREIGN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO DIRECT IMPRISONMENT FOR BRIBING POLICE


The Makhanda Regional Court sentenced Tanzanian national, Mustafa Muhammed (32) to eight years imprisonment, four years of which was suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of the same offence during the suspension. Muhammed will therefore effectively serve four years after he was found guilty of contravening Section 4 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA) 12 of 2004, for trying to bribe police officers who had arrested his brother for being in the country illegally.

On 24 June 2024, the Makhanda police officers had attended to a tip-off from Hlalani Location. Upon following it up, they arrested a foreign national for being in the country illegally. The arrested man then called his brother to come and fetch his house keys before being taken to detention. The accused arrived and, uninvited, entered the police vehicle where his brother was detained. On entering he immediately offered Warrant Officer (W/O) Zingisa Nteta an amount of R1 250 in cash. The officer rejected it and asked him if he knew what he was doing was illegal. The accused, undeterred offered to add R250 more to his initial offer. W/O Nteta immediately informed his colleagues, and the accused was placed under arrest there and then.

Confronted with the overwhelming evidence by the state, the defence tendered a plea of guilt admitting all the facts alleged in the police docket. Despite the guilty plea, Regional Court Prosecutor, Khwezikazi Makonti argued for a custodial sentence citing the upsurge of corruption and its crippling effect on the functioning of government and law enforcement systems. The court agreed, commending the police officers for not allowing themselves to be bought at any price.

The Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madolo stated that the sentence, as prayed for by the prosecution is a strong indication that those who seek immunity from facing consequences of their illegal actions will not be treated with the proverbial kids’ gloves.

Issued by:

Luxolo Tyali
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Eastern Cape Division
Tel: 047 501 2630
Email: ltyali@npa.gov.za