Another 15 suspects – of whom nine are former or current members of the South African Police Service – were arrested over the weekend in connection with large-scale tender fraud of R50 million.
Some of the suspects are former police officers, while others are still employed by the police. The rest are administrative police clerks and six are civilians.
The case relates to the awarding of tenders to affix trademarks, reflective marks and blue lights on police vehicles, among others. The citizens are suspected of allegedly paying bribes so that the tenders are awarded to them.
They will appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and theft.
An anti-corruption task force of the police cooperated in the investigation with a team from Hermione Cronjé’s investigative directorate at the National Prosecuting Authority.
According to Brig. National police spokesperson Vish Naidoo said the accused were arrested on Friday and Saturday.
“The arrest of these 15 suspects means that a total of 30 accused have been arrested in connection with the case,” Naidoo said in a statement.
This comes after 15 accused, including a retired police general, senior and junior police officers as well as other suppliers were arrested on June 4 for the same case.
They have already appeared in court and all the accused, except one, were released on bail of R5 000 each.
Another suspect is wanted, who will eventually bring the total to 31.
Both groups will appear in court together later this year where they will likely plead and so that a trial date can be set.
