Cops in court on extortion charges

Published May 24, 2012

Share

Two senior police officials appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Thursday after allegedly trying to blackmail a fruit and vegetable hawker.

Warrant Officers Bruce Denzil Dirkse and Brian Julius face charges of attempted extortion.

According to the charge sheet, they are based at the Bellville railway station, where the hawker plied her trade.

The charge sheet alleges that Dirkse confiscated liquor in her possession on two occasions, and she reported him when he did so again in December.

He then demanded R270 to return her liquor.

She was able to pay only R130, and a surveillance operation was set up after Dirkse said he would return later for the remaining R140.

In the surveillance operation, the hawker was given the R140 to give to Dirkse, and when she did so Dirkse and Julius were arrested in a nearby building.

According to the charge sheet, police found Dirkse in possession of R40 in marked notes, and Julius in possession of a marked R100

note.

Both men make their second court appearance on June 8. - Sapa

Related Topics: