Probation officer in dock for corruption

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File photo

Published Jan 13, 2017

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Johannesburg – A 35-year-old probation officer from the Department of Social Development appeared in the Middelburg Magistrate's Court on Friday on a charge of corruption, Mpumalanga police said on Friday.

Pinkie Mahlangu, who is employed at the departmnent's offices in Middelburg, is alleged to have attempted to solicit a bribe.

Police spokesperson, Sergeant Gerald Sedibe, said Mahlangu allegedly tried to solicit a bribe from a 36-year-old man who had been arrested in connection with an assault case.

The man had apparently been ordered by a court to attend a diversion programme in Benoni.

"It is alleged that on 18 December 2016, Mahlangu called the man to attend the programme the following day as arranged by the court and she then made a follow-up and discovered that he was unable to attend," said Sedibe.

Mahlangu added: "It is understood that Mahlangu started calling the person on the guise that he would be arrested for non-attendance and it led to a point where she allegedly threatened him that a warrant for his arrest had been issued. She was reported to have solicited a bribe of a certain amount from the victim so that she may compile a positive report on his behalf."

The matter was reported to the police, whereafter the Anti-Corruption Unit arrested her.

Mahlangu has been remanded until 18 January 2017, pending a formal bail application.

African News Agency

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