An informant who provided police with “primary information” that led to the arrest of the man convicted for the rape and murder of 16-year-old Franziska Blöchliger has finally received the reward promised to him following a lengthy battle with SAPS management.
The Westlake resident, whose name the Cape Times is withholding, has been embroiled in the battle with Kirstenhof police officers over the payment.
He first became involved in the matter a day after the crime on March 7 last year when one of the suspects had approached him to buy the teenager’s iPhone.
He was suspicious of this as the informant’s friend, who is a police officer, had previously told him about a missing phone that matched the description of the one he was asked to buy.
“That was primary information which led to the arrest of the suspect. My principle here is that we do not buy stolen items.
"When he tried selling the phone, I pretended to have an interest, but would have to consult my wife first. I was buying some time to inform the police officer who is my friend,” he said.
After leading the officers to the man who was arrested, he was made to sign forms for the information in order to get the reward.
This did not happen until he followed up with Kirstenhof police station management before lodging a complaint with the provincial police management, claiming corruption at the Kirstenhof SAPS when they allegedly failed to pay him the money.
The informant said he was left bitter by how the matter has been handled as he did not receive protection.
However, police spokesperson Andre Traut said the allegations of corruption have been investigated and could not be substantiated. He confirmed that “an informer’s claim has been submitted for the information provided”.
Asked why had the matter taken so long to resolved, police spokesperson FC van Wyk said: “The investigating officer responded that a claim was submitted earlier but was put on hold due to the court case.
"Once that was done, there was the investigation into the alleged corruption. When that was finalised, the informer was paid out.”
Franziska was raped, robbed and murdered in Tokai Forest on March 7 last year. Howard Oliver received two life sentences for murder and rape, and a further 15 years for robbery which would be served concurrently.