Former Police Officers sentenced for extortion, corruption and attempting to defeat the administration of Justice

FORMER POLICE OFFICERS SENTENCED FOR EXTORTION, CORRUPTION AND ATTEMPTING TO DEFEAT THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

The Bellville Commercial Crimes Court has sentenced two former police officers to an effective nine-year direct imprisonment following a successful entrapment where they attempted to extort thousands of rands from a woman arrested for drug possession. Jonathan Jerome Plaatjies and Morne Albert Britton Fasser were sentenced to 8 years direct imprisonment for extortion, 9 years direct imprisonment for corruption and 6 years direct imprisonment for attempting to defeat the administration of justice.

The conviction and sentence are a result of a phone call former Sergeant Plaatjies, a veteran with 21 years’ experience in the police service made on 30 July 2014 to Sumaya Kennedy, who had a case of drug possession. Plaatjies told her that Warrant Officer Fasser, with 12 years’ experience in the police services, was investigating her drug possession case and invited her to a meeting to see if something could be done about her case. Kennedy agreed and they met that evening in Gatesville. Fasser warned her that she could lose her house because of the case against her but he could assist her. She was told the ‘assistance’ would cost her money and she indicated that she had R10 000. She gave it to Fasser who told her that he would work with her via Plaatjies. 

On 07 August 2014, Plaatjies called again requesting a second meeting as new information about the dockets of her case had emerged. At the meeting, she was told that other people handling the dockets also wanted a cut and the total amount was now R40 000. She suspected the accused were playing her and reported them to a senior police officer. The Senior State Advocate, Xolile Jonas led six witnesses as he prosecuted the case. Adv Jonas told the court that Kennedy met with Captain Grill of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) a day after she reported her suspicions of being played by the accused. It was decided that a trap would be used to catch the accused. A Section 252A application was made and authorisation was granted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Western Cape. 

A third meeting was organised with Kennedy wearing a device for video and audio recordings. The accused were recorded promising to burn the dockets in front of Sumaya once she had paid the bribe. Captain Grill gave her R40 000 as part of the entrapment. She met them in Gatesville while other members of DPCI kept a watchful eye as she entered Fasser’s official vehicle. An exchange occurred and she made a sign indicating she had paid. They were arrested as they were leaving the area and the R40 000 was found in the cabin hole of the official vehicle.  

Adv Jonas argued that the accused’s main intent was to threaten Kennedy by suggesting that the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) would take her house due to the number of cases that were being investigated against her. This seemed real as she was aware of a person who had experienced this. She succumbed to their request to pay a bribe. She did not approach Plaatjies, but he did with a set purpose of extorting money from her, and she paid R10 000 because of the pressure and fear induced by the accused. Adv Jonas also proved their actions were aimed at defeating the ends of justice in that, with the docket destroyed Kennedy would not be prosecuted if the need or evidence permitted. Fasser challenged the admissibility of Section 252A used to arrest them and went as far as the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) but lost. Adv Jonas proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused were guilty of the charges preferred against them and the court not only sentenced them but declared both unfit to possess a firearm. 

The Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Nicolette Bell, lauded the work done by the investigating and prosecution teams in dealing with corruption involving police officers. This is a second sentence of former police officers charged with corruption in a space of two weeks which is commendable work conducted by those committed to rooting out this scourge.  

Kind regards, 

Eric Ntabazalila
National Prosecuting Authority
Regional Communications Manager
Western Cape
Tel: (021) 487 7308 Mobile: 073 062 1222
Email: entabazalila@npa.gov.za