Honest cop spurns R50 000 bribe
2008-03-19 21:49
Hazyview - Two relatives appeared in the magistrate's court here on Wednesday on charges of giving a policeman a R50 000 bribe to release another relative implicated in 79 crimes around Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West.
Mpumalanga's Captain Leonard Hlathi said the suspects, aged 42 and 37, were charged with bribery shortly after a trap was set for them about 13:30 on Wednesday.
Hlathi said: "The suspects had arranged to deliver the money to the policeman in Hazyview. We arrested them as soon as the money was handed over."
He praised the policeman for being an honest cop.
He said the suspects had wanted the policeman to release Moses Matsabe, who was arrested on the N4 highway in Middelburg on December 11.
The two are Matsabe's brother and cousin.
Five murders, two rapes
Hlathi said: "We are investigating 79 serious cases against Matsabe, 37 of which are ready for court and 42 of which are still under investigation."
Matsabe has been implicated in about 28 armed robberies, 17 thefts, six car hijackings, seven house robberies, five murders, two rapes, three vehicle thefts, two assaults with the intention to cause grievous bodily harm, intimidation, possession of unlawful firearms, escaping from custody and attempted robbery.
He is scheduled to appear in Middelburg Magistrate's Court again on April 7.
His brother and cousin will appear in Middelburg Magistrate's Court on March 25 for the bribery case.