Port Elizabeth - A former member of the Port Elizabeth gang task team who allegedly kept mum on the whereabouts of a notorious gangster - also her then secret lover - was given a stern warning to take steps to finalise her plea in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate's Court on Monday.
Detective Constable Alicia Beeming was back in court to face a charge of defeating the ends of justice.
The disgraced cop indicated in May she would plead guilty to the charges, but has yet to give formal instruction to her attorney.
Defence attorney, Hennie Bence, asked the court to postpone the matter for two weeks so that Beeming could give him instruction for the drafting of her guilty plea.
State prosecutor, Jason Thysse, said his hands were tied as this was the second time Beeming had failed to meet with her attorney.
"I can't object to the postponement but if she went to see her lawyer the matter may have been finalised," said Thysse.
Magistrate Onke Myataza warned Beeming not to skip another consultation with her lawyer.
"Your case is very old, it started in March 2015. The last time it was supposed to proceed in the regional court but it was postponed because you didn't consult with your lawyer.
"We are in the same position up until today. If you don't consult with your lawyer you are putting yourself in a precarious position because I could rule the case proceeds," said Myataza.
Following her departmental hearing during November last year, Beeming was sent back to her station of origin at the Motherwell police station where she works within the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit. Police had earlier confirmed that Beeming had been found guilty and had to pay a fine of R2 400.
Beeming was given a sanction of dismissal which was suspended for six months on condition that she is not guilty of similar misconduct.
According to the State, Beeming kept silent about her relationship with a high-ranking gang member Hans Jordaan, all the while she was an active specialist investigator probing gang activity in Port Elizabeth's northern areas.
According to the charge sheet, Beeming would attend meetings held by the commander of the unit, Captain Mike Grobler, during which gangs, gang activity and wanted suspects were identified and discussed.
Beeming had access to both covert and overt intelligence, as well as case dockets investigated by the Gang Task Team unit, all privileged information.
According to the State, the cop allegedly had information on the whereabouts of Jordaan, but kept mum about it while her unit was searching for him in connection with an attempted murder charge related to a gang shooting in 2014.
The prosecution alleges that Beeming had a relationship with Jordaan whilst fully knowing that he was a suspect the Gang Task Team wanted to arrest.
The prosecution claims that Beeming had failed to inform her commander, Grobler, about their relationship. Beeming was stationed at the Humewood police station detective branch before being transferred to the SA Police Service gang task team during April 2014.
A final postponement was granted for August 14.