Commissioner welcomes warders’ arrest

Cape Town - 090624 - Worcester Prison. The Female Correctional Facilities at Worcester Prison. Photo: Matthew Jordaan

Cape Town - 090624 - Worcester Prison. The Female Correctional Facilities at Worcester Prison. Photo: Matthew Jordaan

Published Jul 10, 2014

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Cape Town - Correctional services acting national commissioner Zach Modise on Thursday welcomed the arrest of five officials accused of working with a gang to commit criminal acts.

“The arrest of these officials for alleged incidents of fraud and corruption should be sending an emphatic zero-tolerance message,” Modise said in a statement.

Five correctional services officials were arrested on Thursday in Worcester, Western Cape police said.

“The officials, aged 33, 36, 40, 41 and 43, will be charged for offences relating to the drug trafficking and corruption acts,” Lt-Col André Traut said.

They also face a charge relating to the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

“The arrest of the officials is an extension of our lengthy investigation into the criminal activities of the Junior Cisko Yakies gang,” he said.

“Our investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrests of the officials is a continuing process and the possibility of more arrests is not excluded.”

A total of 32 members of the gang had been arrested in connection with the murders of two men in the Breede Valley prison last year.

“The (correctional services) officials are linked to the activities of these gang members and are suspected of assisting them to perpetrate various crimes in prison,” Traut said.

Correctional services spokesman Manelisi Wolela said the men were expected to appear in the Worcester Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Sapa

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