Rustenburg - A police constable, arrested for fraud after unlawfully demanding payment to release a vehicle from police holding, appeared in the Ladybrand Magistrate’s Court in the Free State on Thursday.
Provincial police spokesperson Constable Peter Kereli said Constable Rethabile Motete, 31, was released on a R1 000 bail. His case was postponed to June 30 for investigation.
Motete was arrested on Wednesday, after he allegedly demanded money from a man who had come to collect his car at the police’s vehicle identification and safe guarding section.
“The victim went to SAPS Vehicle Identification and safe guarding Section(VIS unit) at Ladybrand to collect his vehicle,” Kereli said. “On arrival he met with a police constable who informed him that he must pay him money before he could get his vehicle back.
“The vehicle owner was puzzled and decided to call the police anti-corruption unit. The unit acted swiftly and set a trap for the cop. The 31-year-old police official fell for it and he was arrested after he was found in possession of the money used by the police anti-corruption agent.”
ANA