Five ex-cops deny stealing money
2011-11-30 19:03
Polokwane - Five former police officials in Limpopo have pleaded not guilty in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court to stealing confiscated money.
On Tuesday, the former commander of the tactical response team, Caroline Mokatse, and her co-accused George Setsiba, Pule Segooa, Avhapfani Siaga and Moses Lefember denied stealing the money in August last year.
The five, who are all out on bail, face charges of theft, money laundering, contravening the Organised Crime Act and of being accessories to crime.
They allegedly stole R525 000 in US dollars when they confiscated R5m worth of foreign currency from businessman Fazel Mohamed on the N1 north, between Makhado and Polokwane.
The R525 000 was missing when the confiscated money was handed in at Polokwane police station, but was later allegedly found in Mokatse's garden.
Mohamed had been arrested for alleged contravention of the SA Reserve Bank and Revenue Act, which regulates currency control.
He opened a counter-case against the police after noticing that some of the money was missing.
Mokatse’s defence lawyer told the court that despite the money being found in her garden, she pleaded not guilty and would deny all allegations against her.
Her co-accused said they would not plead guilty, but would not explain why by opting to remain silent.
The case was postponed to July 4.
Segooa - a former police captain - also faces legal action in a separate case, where he stands accused of shooting and wounding a police officer during his arrest.
- SAPA
