Johannesburg - The North West police commissioner on Wednesday welcomed the sentences handed to three police officers for theft and defeating the ends of justice.
“We would like to commend the members (police officers) who worked hard to ensure that dishonest police officials like the accused are apprehended and convicted,” said Lt-Gen Zukiswa Mbombo.
“We are certain that this is an indication that we will not hesitate to deal with our own members if they do not conduct themselves properly.”
Sello Panane, 40, and Tsholofelo Lelaka, 37, got six-years in prison each for theft, while Oupa Motshegwa, 40, was handed a two-year sentence for defeating the ends of justice. The sentences were handed down on Monday at the Brits Regional Court.
The three were arrested in 2012 after a tip-off that they stole two impounded cars from the police pound in September 2010.
The cars, a BMW and Toyota Conquest, were recovered at a house in Rustenburg.
The court found that the accused removed the cars from the pound and that one of them manipulated other people to falsely claim ownership of the cars.
The police officers have since been dismissed from the SA Police Service.
Sapa