Two former Scorpions bosses appeared in the Pretoria Special Commercial Crimes Court on Friday on charges of theft, fraud and corruption, a police spokesman said.
Captain Dennis Adriao said the two handed themselves over to police and were arrested on Friday on charges relating to corruption, theft and fraud amounting collectively to over R1,5-million.
He said the investigation was conducted over a period of thirteen months by South African Police Service detectives attached to the Serious Economic Offences unit.
Geophrey Ledwaba, 41, was granted R100 000 bail and Ayanda Dlodlo, 43, was granted bail of R50 000 and the case was postponed to 30 November.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi said NPA head Vusi Pikoli requested the investigation against Ledwaba and Dlodlo after allegations of improper conduct with regard to certain transactions were levelled against Ledwaba.
Ledwaba is the former head of operations of the crime-busting unit, the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO).
He resigned during 2005 after the criminal investigation was launched. Dlodlo, who was DSO head of strategic operations, resigned in 2004 to rejoin the Gauteng Provincial Government in a senior position at the Department of Safety and Liaison.
"Advocate Pikoli thanks the SAPS for the professional manner in which they conducted the investigation. He also thanks the management of the DSO for the full cooperation that they gave to the police during their investigation," said Nkosi.
He said the outcome of the police investigation indicated there was no widespread fraud and corruption in the DSO, and that these were isolated incidents.
"The NPA, which adopts a zero-tolerance approach to acts of misconduct and criminality among its employees, will ensure that the prosecution of the two individuals is carried out to the full extent of and in accordance with the law."
Senior Scorpions advocate Portia Kgantsi is currently in jail awaiting her bail application to be heard. She was arrested on charges of bribery, corruption, extortion and defeating the ends of justice earlier this month. - Sapa