Two former police officers were been sentenced to 10 years in prison for extorting R14,000 from a printing business owner in Rivonia, Johannesburg.
On Tuesday, the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Palmridge jailed 47-year-olds Lehlogonolo Tsagane and Jabulani Ngobeni.
According to Phindi Mjonondwane, spokeswoman for the Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), on November 28, 2020, the two policemen were on duty when they received a tip-off about a suspect branding clothes with the South African Police Service (SAPS) insignia and rushed to the site.
“They illegally demanded R1.5 million from Maxwell Chiyangwa, but settled for R14,000.00 after threatening him with an arrest,” replied Mjonondwane.
She stated that the two cops told Chiyangwa to transfer the money to his wife’s account before escorting her to the Woodmead shopping complex, where the money was withdrawn.
Chiyangwa was left behind with a police officer.
“Chiyangwa reported the incident to the authorities and following an intensive investigation by the provincial corruption Unit of the SAPS, the two police officers were ordered to hand themselves to the Johannesburg Central Police Station on September 21, 2022,” according to Mjonondwane.
She said that when the cops were sentenced, the court varied from the stipulated minimum penalty of 15 years because they were first-time offenders who pleaded guilty to the offense.
Mjonondwane noted that the NPA was making demonstrable progress in prosecuting high-profile corruption cases.
“Nearly 700 government officials have been convicted of corruption since 2019. “We remain committed to upholding the law and ensuring that those who violate it, including those sworn to enforce it, face the full force of justice,” she said.