JMPD officer sentenced for accepting bribe
A 41-year-old Johannesburg Metro Police Department officer has been sentenced for accepting a R100 bribe.
The officer, Nkgoape Lydia Matsapola was sentenced in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
She had been arrested by members of the National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit in March 2016.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson, Simon Zwane, says the officer stopped an undercover agent for driving a vehicle without a valid licence.
"She accepted a R100 bribe in exchange for allowing the agent to drive away without the required fine. Matsapola was charged under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and the magistrate took into account her unique personal circumstances in mitigation of sentence," Zwane says in a statement.
The woman was further sentenced to five years imprisonment, suspended for five years provided she is not found guilty of a similar offence again.
The magistrate declared her unfit to possess a firearm.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation will now apply to have the officer unregistered to prevent her from ever working in the law enforcement fraternity.
"The sentence should send a message to other traffic law enforcement officers that bribery and corruption has very negative consequences," Zwane adds.
Meanwhile, in the North West three traffic officers have been dismissed after being found guilty of dishonesty.
The trio were arrested in December 2016 for taking bribes from undercover officers.
The three are expected to appear in the Brits Magistrate's Court on charges related to bribery.
They are currently on bail of R2000 each.
In Gauteng, a provincial inspector has also been dismissed for accepting a R200 bribe from an anti-corruption agent in December 2016.
Khonke is facing criminal charges and is expected to appear in the Springs Magistrate's Court soon.
He is currently out on R1000 bail.