Wannabe cop exposed jobs scam

2008-03-05 19:41

Thabisile Khoza

Bushbuckridge - A policeman accused of swindling seven people out of R13 000 after promising them jobs as cops has appeared briefly in court.

The case was postponed to April 9 for trial in Mhala Magistrate's Court in Bushbuckridge.

Inspector Isaac Nobunga, 48, of the Bushbuckridge police station was not asked to plead to seven counts of corruption and is out on R5 000 bail.

Captain Leonard Hlathi of Mpumalanga police said nine witnesses would be called to testify against Nobunga.

Nobunga was arrested on January 30 while on duty when a man arrived at the police station to ask when he could start police training.

Switchboard operator

He told police that he had paid R2 500 to undergo training and to get a job in the police service.

He said he was told he could start in January, but had no one had contacted him to tell him on what day.

Meanwhile, switchboard operator Lindiwe Shabalala who works at Nelspruit police station was arrested last week and charged with 30 counts of fraud.

She is accused of acting as an agent for certain police officials and offering job-seekers work in the police service in return for money.

Shabalala is out on R3 000 bail and will appear in court again on April 14.

- African Eye