Senior KwaZulu-Natal police officer Colonel Rajen Aiyer, who was arrested on Wednesday in connection with charges of perjury and defeating the ends of justice, appeared in the Durban Magistrate's Court.
Aiyer, who was once head of the police's Durban Organised Crime Unit, appeared with another officer Captain Dhanpal Mundree after they were both arrested by investigators from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.
The charges relate to a false statement made in connection with a robbery case in which Aiyer was one of the complainants.
Aiyer and Mundree were both released on R1000 bail and the case was adjourned to August 23.
Aiyer was at one stage thought to be one of the key witnesses in the trial against officers from the Durban Organised Crime Unit who have been charged in connection with allegedly running a "death squad".
The “death squad” case against the officers is yet to go to trial in the Durban High Court.