South Africa’s organised crime unit, the Hawks have arrested nine people including five policemen and one immigration officer on corruption charges, fraud and smuggling of stolen vehicles into Zimbabwe.
Hawks spokesperson for Limpopo province, Captain Matimba Maluleke said the suspects who had been under surveillance for two years, were arrested on Monday and Tuesday during an operation code named “Mirror.” Said Captain Maluleke:
The arrests are a culmination of a Hawks’ investigative project dubbed “Mirror” aimed at addressing corrupt and illegal activities which includes, smuggling of suspected stolen vehicles through Beitbridge Border Post. The five police officers who were stationed at Tom Burke SAPS and the border post as well as the home affairs official and three runners, were under Hawks’ radar since 2016 following complaints from members of the public.
Captain Maluleke said one of the police officers, Sergeant Israel Mandiwana was remanded in custody to February 1 for bail application when he appeared before a Makhado magistrate’s court. His accomplices will appear in different courts today.
More: Chronicle
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