Police arrest own over murder-for-hire and fake Matric claim

Two law-enforcement officials – one accused of wanting to kill her husband and the other of stealing someone else’s Matric pass marks to get a government job — will make their first appearance at the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court tomorrow‚ following their arrest by the Hawks’ Organised Crime Unit.

The two‚ a 42-year-old Detective Warrant Officer from Mthatha and a 46-year-old local traffic official‚ will face separate charges of conspiracy to commit murder‚ as well as forgery and uttering.

The detective was arrested as a result of an investigation that began last year after it had emerged that she had allegedly conspired to kill her husband‚ SAPS said in a statement.

“The plot was uncovered after two would-be assassins who were promised R5‚000 each for the job‚ allegedly spilled the beans to her husband and other family members who‚ in turn‚ notified the Hawks.”

The detective was arrested at her workplace on Tuesday. “Further investigations have revealed that more people were involved in the scheme and further arrests are imminent‚” police said.

Meanwhile‚ a traffic official was also arrested on Tuesday in a separate investigation by the same team after being accused of presenting a fraudulent matriculation certificate when he joined the local municipal traffic office in 2011.

“Investigations have revealed that the 46-year-old traffic official allegedly replicated the results of another student‚ claiming them to be his.

“The 46-year-old official was arrested at his home and in a further search‚ more documents were seized. The investigations are continuing.”

The Acting Head of the DPCI‚ Major General Mthandazo Ntlemeza‚ said he was saddened about the arrest of the officials.

“Police personnel must distance themselves from criminal and corrupt practices. Instead‚ they should wage a tenacious war against these crimes. No police official‚ nor traffic official‚ is above the law. There is no room for corrupt police officials in the SAPS or any government institution and we will continue to ensure that anybody with a criminal mindset is removed‚” said Ntlemeza.

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