Former police constable and her accomplice were sentenced in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court for corruption, extortion, kidnapping, and assault
Image: SAPS
A former Free State police constable and her accomplice were sentenced for a series of crimes, including corruption, extortion, kidnapping, and assault, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as the Hawks) said.
The Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court handed down hefty sentences on Tuesday, to Bontle Mpolokeng Monnenyane, 41, and Refilwe Tumelo Koetle, 33.
Their crimes date back to December 2017 when they targeted a family under the guise of law enforcement.
Monnenyane and Koetle falsely claimed that a man was under arrest for possessing a stolen vehicle.
"The duo visited the victim's mother and told her that her son (the victim) was arrested and Koetle's father had paid R10,000 bail for his release which needed to be reimbursed," provincial Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti said.
The suspects’ scheme unraveled when detectives set up an undercover operation. The pair were caught red-handed at the victim's workplace while attempting to withdraw money using the victim’s bank card on payday.
This act of corruption resulted in their immediate arrest.
After several delays in court, both Monnenyane and Koetle were found guilty on November 11. Monnenyane received an effective 12 years in prison for corruption, kidnapping, extortion, and assault.
Koetle, meanwhile, was sentenced to an effective eight years for her role in the crimes. Both were also declared unfit to possess firearms.
Acting Free State Provincial Head of the Hawks, Brigadier Sophie Hange, praised the sentencing, calling it a victory for justice.
“No law enforcement official is above the law. The corrupt extortionists shall be removed,” said Hange.
Monnenyane had already been dismissed from the police service in 2018.
IOL
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