Four police officers from Pretoria have been arrested for allegedly robbing foreign nationals commuting to the home affairs office in the Pretoria CBD. The officers who are stationed at the Pretoria Central police station were arrested by the Hawks and other law enforcement on Wednesday, 1 June 2022.
Colonel Katlego Mogale, the Director for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson said a tip-off was received from Crime Intelligence about police officers based at Pretoria Central who allegedly robbed foreign nationals on their way to Home Affairs office in the city.
The officers are accused of abandoning their posts and while on duty and targeting foreign nationals in Brooklyn in the city centre, where they would rob them and make a quick buck.
“The members would then stop and search them [and] take their belongings. Wednesday night seems to have been no different, and the suspects embarked on their illegal activity. Unbeknown to them they too were under surveillance by law-abiding members of a multidisciplinary team,” said Mogale.
The Pretoria police officers robbed their victims near Fountains Circle and as they were about to leave, the team ponced on them. Four suspects were arrested, and two others abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot.
The arrested officers were taken to the police station where one of them escaped while they were taken to the cells. “The commander contacted the other two suspects who had fled but instead of arresting them on their arrival, he confiscated the alleged loot from them and returned with it into the station,” said Mogale.
The suspects face charges of robbery, possession of suspected stolen property and defeating the ends of justice.
Source: News24, The South African, Opera News, image from The South African: Flickr
