In a bribery case involving two police officers, the Gqeberha high court granted the Hawks Eastern Cape’s priority crime specialised investigation (PCSI) section a forfeiture order for R158 000.
This follows a December 2022 incident in which the Hawks’ serious corruption investigation in East London received a tip about a police officer, according to Hawks spokeswoman Capt Yolisa Mgolodela.
Mgolodela said, “W/O Richard Ntokozo Zungu, 56, stationed at New Brighton police station detectives section was allegedly going to sell a double police murder case docket for R20,000 and allegedly did so.
“Due to the quick action of the investigation team, the accused was caught and arrested in possession of the cash in his vehicle, a white Toyota Corolla worth R138,000, which was used during the crime and was seized during the operation.
“His co-accused Sgt Luyanda Innocent Maneli, 41, attached at Swartkops police station, was later arrested after a preliminary investigation which alleged that the duo connived to commit a crime.”
Mgolodela also said that the case was referred to the PCSI in Gqeberha for an asset forfeiture investigation and that a preservation order was given last week Tuesday by the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit.
She stated that this was for “cash accrued through criminal activities worth R20 000 and a vehicle used as instrumentality worth R138 000”.
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“The cash and money accrued through the sale of the vehicle will be deposited into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account for state use.
“Zungu and Maneli have since been suspended from the police service and their salaries stopped. They have been remanded in custody since their arrest. They are expected to be back in the Gqeberha high court on August 22 2023.”
