Cape Town - The Western Cape’s top police officer and five other people were due to appear in court on Friday to face charges that include racketeering, money laundering and corruption.
Police provincial commissioner Arno Lamoer was flown from Oudtshoorn on Thursday, where he attended the National Council of Provinces programme Taking Parliament to the People.
National Prosecuting Authority (npa) provincial spokesman Eric Ntabazalila would only confirm that six people were to appear in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court, saying: “Names and indictment details will be available today. It is corruption and other charges.”
While Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Rodney de Kock could not be reached on Thursday night, it is understood Lamoer and the others faced charges that included racketeering, general corruption, money laundering, fraud, firearm offences and defeating or obstructing the cause of justice.
It is also understood Lamoer flew back to Cape Town after he was notified on Thursday that he would be charged.
Contacted on Thursday night, Lamoer said: “I’ve got no comment.” Pressed for a response, he said: “No comment at all.”
The decision to bring Lamoer before a court had been months in the making.
In September, it was reported that allegations of corruption had been levelled against him as well as Brigadier Sharon Govender, Brigadier Darius van der Ross and Brigadier Kolindren Govender.
The allegations related to an alleged corrupt relationship between the top police officials and a local businessman who allegedly gave them expensive gifts and money. At the time Hawks spokesman Paul Ramaloko was quoted as saying they were being investigated in connection with allegations of collusion with drug dealers.
NPA national spokesman Nathi Mcube had said the Independent Police Investigative Directorate had investigated the complaint made against national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega last year. The docket had first been passed to National Director of Public Prosecutions Mxolisi Nxasana, then De Kock, for a decision.
The Cape Argus had reported in November that a month earlier Phiyega was accused of defeating the ends of justice, after she had allegedly tipped off Lamoer that he was being probed for a corrupt relationship with a Cape Town businessman with apparent links to the criminal underworld.
At the time it was also reported that Crime Intelligence was believed to have monitored Lamoer’s communication in order to establish his relationship with the businessman.
Phiyega has subsequently been let off the hook, but at the time there was no clarity regarding investigations into Lamoer. De Kock was quoted as having said he would make a decision on having Lamoer prosecuted once the investigation was completed.
Cape Times