A leading police officer from Duncan Village police station’s Criminal Investigation Division has been arrested on charges of corruption.
Detective Constable Suneel Bellochun was apprehended in the East London CBD on Saturday afternoon during a sting operation carried out by members of the Hawks.
He stands accused of soliciting a R30000 bribe from a spaza shop owner operating near the East London taxi rank.
Hawks spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko said the arrest stemmed from an incident on Friday when Bellochun is alleged to have spotted a vehicle being used to transport illegal cigarettes.
“Apparently the constable has been victimising Pakistani nationals for quite some time now.
“He allegedly threatened to arrest the owner of the cigarettes before demanding R30000 to look the other way. However, the shop owner could only raise R27000 up front and promised to pay the balance on Saturday.
“We were then alerted and arrested the constable in East London on Saturday while he was receiving R3000,” Ramaloko said.
“We are now calling for other Pakistani nationals who he might have victimised to come forward so that we can determine the extent of his damage.”
Bellochun appeared in the East London Magistrate’s Court yesterday where he was released on R5000 bail. His case has been postponed to March 3 2015 for further investigation.
It was unclear yesterday if Bellochun, who is regarded as a dedicated detective with a sterling record, would continue serving as an officer while a criminal investigation against him is under way.
“We are all shocked at his arrest; the member has put a lot of bad guys behind bars.
“He belongs to a detective team that does general investigations ranging from murder to counterfeit cigarettes,” said a police source.
Duncan Village Community Police Forum chairman Ludumo Salman said he had heard the “disturbing rumours” of the officer’s arrest.
“We are very, very shocked. I really do not want to speak about this issue in the media before getting a report from the police station commander. As you know these matters are very sensitive,” Salman said.
Provincial police management yesterday condemned corrupt behaviour amongst officers, saying Bellochun’s arrest should send a strong message that police officers would be arrested if they were found to be breaking the law.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Khaya Tonjeni said: “This matter will be investigated in terms of the SAPS disciplinary procedures. Procedures against any member are a matter between SAPS and an employee and cannot be discussed with the media.”
In court yesterday a relaxed- looking Bellochun shared a bench with suspects accused of other crimes committed in the city over the weekend while waiting for presiding magistrate Kevin von Bratt.
He tried to avoid having his picture taken by a Dispatch photographer, and waited in the holding cells until Von Bratt took his seat.