Johannesburg - Twenty one police officers have been dismissed and are set to appear in the Welkom Magistrate’s Court later this year on various charges including corruption, theft and defeating the ends of justice, Free State police have said.
Police spokesperson Colonel Motantsi Makhele said the officers were dismissed internally on 30 July.
“They will appear individually from September till November 2015.”
Makhele said the officers were arrested after the police received information about illegal activities involving gold-dust.
“One captain, four warrant officers, two sergeants, twelve constables, one reservist constable and one Public Service Act employee (messenger) were dismissed from the South African Police Service (SAPS) after their involvement in offences ranging from the contravening the Precious Metals Act, defeating the ends of justice, theft, corruption and money laundering in Welkom.”
The members, from different units in Welkom and Thabong, were arrested by the Hawks last year after months of intense investigation, Makhele said.
“During a disciplinary hearing the members were dismissed on charges of committing common law or statutory offences, conducting themselves in an improper, disgraceful and unacceptable manner; prejudice in the administration, discipline or efficiency of a department, office or institution of the State and contravening the prescribed Code of Conduct for the Service or the Public Service which may be applicable to him.”
They were all dismissed for departmental and criminal offences which they had committed in September last year.
ANA