Two law enforcement officials have recently found themselves on the wrong side of the law, facing charges of kidnapping, malicious damage to property, and theft. The duo, consisting of a Gauteng Traffic Police member and a Home Affairs Immigration officer, were apprehended in a joint operation by the Gauteng Police Organised Crime Investigation and Home Affairs in Tshwane.
The incident in question took place when the two officers visited the home of a foreign national on 27 February. They demanded to see the documentation proving her right to reside in the country. After presenting the required documents, the officers informed the victim that they needed to verify them at the Department of Home Affairs. However, instead of taking her to the designated office, they took her to Pretoria Central Police Station, where she was detained under the false pretense of being an illegal immigrant.
The victim’s ordeal did not end there. The following day, the suspects escorted her to the airport, purchased a plane ticket, and instructed her to leave the country, claiming she was being deported to her home country. Fortunately, while at the airport, the victim reported the incident to immigration officers, prompting the opening of a case at the local police station. The investigation was subsequently escalated to the Provincial Head Office of Organised Crime Investigations.
A warrant of arrest was issued for the suspects, leading to a successful operation conducted by Major General Mbuso Khumalo, the Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Crime Detection. Major General Khumalo suspects that there may be other foreign nationals who have fallen victim to similar criminal activities and urges anyone in such a situation to come forward and report the matter to the authorities.
In a separate incident earlier this year, KwaZulu-Natal police arrested a foreign national for impersonating a police officer, alongside other charges including drug possession and fraud. The individual was found in possession of rock cocaine and a fraudulent police identification card in Musgrave. The police officers on duty acted swiftly upon discovering the illegal items in the suspect’s possession.
These cases highlight the importance of upholding the law and holding accountable those who abuse their positions of authority for personal gain. The swift action taken by law enforcement authorities in both instances serves as a reminder that justice will prevail in the face of criminal activities.
