‘Skelm’ officer caught

A Mowbray police officer accused of stealing money relating to clearance certificates will make his first appearance at Wynberg Magistrates’ Court after being arrested by the Anti-Corruption Squad at the weekend.

The officer is the 15th Western Cape police officer to be arrested in the past month over the ACU’s crackdown on officers accused of breaking the law.

According to a source, the unit was alerted to strange activity after it was revealed that no money was being charged for a criminal record despite applications being made.

“He was responsible for criminal record processing at the station. Applicants must pay a fee of R85 in cash or EFT. This fee is not valid because neighborhood watchmen receive this service free of charge.

“So when he applied for private individuals, he marked them as patrols and pocketed the money. “It is not clear how many such applications he has made so far,” the source explains.

Police spokesman Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the arrest and said: “The Western Cape Anti-Corruption Unit arrested the 36-year-old police officer after receiving information that he was taking money from members of the public applying for a naming warrant.

“A sting operation was carried out and the member was subsequently arrested. He will appear in the Wynberg Magistrates Court on Monday in relation to the charge in question.”

In recent weeks the unit has arrested 15 officers for a range of offences, including house robberies worth R20 million, extortion of business owners in Milnerton and other offences.

Rafique Foflonker of the Western Cape Provincial Community Police Forum Board welcomes all the arrests.

“Investigations that lead to the arrest of members of the police require honesty and dedication and it is clear that there are many excellent police officers within the ranks working hard to stamp out crime. As a society we must praise them and support their efforts.”

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