Police Constables Were Sentenced To 4 Years Imprisonment For Corruption
The Pretoria District Court, sentenced two police constables from the South African Police Service (SAPS) Puleng Peter Seshoka (40), and Zakhele Ronnie Mtsheni (40), to 4 years of direct imprisonment, after being convicted of corruption worth R100 000.
On 27 February 2019, when the complainant was at Centurion Mall, the two-constable approached him in his car, telling him his car looked suspicious and demanded to search it. They discovered that the license disk had expired, but still was within the grace period, they then told him to choose between following him to the police station, and R 5000 bail or giving them R1000. After the complainant opted to pay the R1000, they took his belongings while he went to withdraw the funds and returned them when he gave them the money.
The following day, the complainant reported the matter to the police, after investigations by the SAPS Anti-Corruption Unit, the two constables were summoned to court on 07 October 2020, and were later released on warning. In court the, two pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.
In aggravation of sentence, Prosecutor, Cassius Mona, asked the court to impose a sentence that will send a strong message, that corruption will not be tolerated especially in a country where Police officials are accused of corruption and lack diligence in executing their duties. He further told the court that the two constables should have known better, they were placed in a position of trust and authority but betrayed that trust.
The Director of Public Prosecution, Adv. Sibongile Mzinyathi, thanks to the great teamwork done by the investigating team of the SAPS anti-corruption unit, and the Prosecutor which led to the conviction and this sentence.
The NPA welcomes the sentence.
Issued by:
Lumka Mahanjana:
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Gauteng Division: Pretoria
073 002 0000