Cops in court for alleged extortion
2012-05-25 08:43
Cape Town - Two senior police officials appeared in the Bellville
Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Thursday after allegedly trying to
blackmail a fruit and vegetable hawker.
Warrant Officers Bruce Denzil Dirkse and Brian Julius face charges of
attempted extortion.
According to the charge sheet, they are based at the Bellville railway
station, where the hawker plied her trade.
The charge sheet alleges that Dirkse confiscated liquor in her possession on
two occasions, and she reported him when he did so again in December.
He then demanded R270 to return her liquor.
She was able to pay only R130, and a surveillance operation was set up after
Dirkse said he would return later for the remaining R140.
In the surveillance operation, the hawker was given the R140 to give to
Dirkse, and when she did so Dirkse and Julius were arrested in a nearby
building.
According to the charge sheet, police found Dirkse in possession of R40 in
marked notes, and Julius in possession of a marked R100 note.
Both men make their second court appearance on June 8.
- SAPA
