Cape Town – A police clerk who was caught in a sting for allegedly selling information obtained from crime intelligence computers, appeared in a court in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Zukusani Mtakati, 30, of Langa, is charged with corruption, and appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Bellville, before magistrate Sabrina Sonnenberg.
The Crime Intelligence Unit had information that one of its members was selling information obtained from the unit’s computers, and Mtakati was identified as the alleged culprit.
A police under-cover operation (trap) was authorised in June last year.
Mtakati was given an under cover agent’s cellphone number, on the pretence that the agent wanted someone’s profile. Prosecutor Xolile Jonas alleges that Mtakati called the agent in July, to satisfy himself that he was talking to the correct person.
Mtakati than arranged to meet the agent at the Cape Gate shopping mall in Brackenfell, in Cape Town’s northern suburbs. The agent informed the investigating officer of the intended meeting, and the trap was set.
Prior to the meeting, the agent was given R10 000 in police money, with which to pay Mtakati for the information.
It is alleged that Mtakati produced the information the agent sought, and wanted R7 500 for it. They haggled over the price, and Mtakati eventually accepted R3 000. The State alleges that Mtakati went to his car, with the money, to fetch the hard copy of the information on disc, and was arrested.
Mtakati is charged with corruption. The case postponed to June 14 and his R5,000 bail was extended.
African News Agency