DURBAN –A former Limpopo prosecutor was sentenced to four years imprisonment after he was convicted for corruption.
He solicited bribes from an accused who in turn turned to the police and reported the prosecutor.
On Tuesday the Limpopo National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Molatelo Herbert Serumula, 46, appeared in the Morebeng Magistrate’s Court.
Provincial NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said Serumula was arrested on November 19, 2018, after he demanded a bribe from a complainant to destroy a docket.
She said the complainant was arrested for possession of suspected stolen property and the prosecutor requested a R2 000 bribe for the case to disappear.
”The complainant gave him R1 500 and the case was withdrawn.
“Serumula kept on demanding more money from the complainant and further requested that he buys him a vehicle,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.
The complainant then reported the matter to the Serious Corruption Investigation Unit (Hawks) and Serumula was then arrested, she said.
During his case senior state advocate, Mashudu Muli, argued that the accused was convicted of a serious offence.
Muli said Serumula’s actions put the NPA in disrepute.
Serumula accepted R1 500 while he was in the office, undermining the organisation he said.
“The NPA welcomed the sentence hoping that it will serve as a deterrent to those who are expected to uphold the law,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.
THE MERCURY