Cop link in prison truck blast bemoaned
2012-11-06 14:29
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Police
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Johannesburg - The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) is disappointed that a policeman was linked to last month's prison truck blast, it said on Tuesday.
"The union is disappointed that a police officer is a suspect in the crime which could have led to the escape of dangerous awaiting-trial prisoners and the untimely death of a number of people, including police officers," said spokesperson Theto Mahlakoana.
She said the union had always called on all members of the police and other security institutions to ensure their hands were clean of any wrongdoing.
"We also hope that the arrest will serve as a lesson to all officers of the law who may be contemplating taking part in criminal activities."
Court orderly
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) said a Randburg police officer was arrested on Monday after being linked to the prison truck blast.
The officer was a court orderly at the Randburg Magistrate's Court, said Ipid spokesperson Moses Dlamini.
The officer allegedly smuggled an explosive device to the prisoners who had appeared at the court.
The device was detonated while the truck was travelling between the Golden Highway and the N12, outside Naturena, on Monday, October 22.
At the time, 36 awaiting-trial prisoners were being taken back to the Johannesburg Central Prison. Three prisoners died in the explosion.
Three charges
Two prisoners tried to escape, but were recaptured.
The arrested policeman will appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on November 7 on three charges of murder, 29 of attempted murder, and one each of unlawful possession of explosives, and aiding and abetting escape from lawful custody.
On October 26, four prisoners appeared in court on charges related to the blast.
Dan Mabona, Ephraim Moyo, James Motsiti, and Raymond Moyo, appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of explosives, and malicious damage to property.
The matter was postponed to December for further investigation.
- SAPA
