EMPD constables in court for robbery, extortion  

Six EMPD constables from the drug unit, who were arrested on charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, extortion and obstructing the course of justice, appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday (Thursday).

The matter was postponed to today (Friday) for formal bail application.

The six were arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on Wednesday, after being summoned to the EMPD head office in Kempton Park.

According to IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping, the series of events involving the six constables unfolded a year ago. Suping said it is alleged that on March 5, 2024, the officers stopped a Congolese national for an alleged traffic violation.

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The officers asked to see his driver’s licence and identification documents to verify whether he was in the country legally.

He showed them the requested documents and thereafter they went to verify his credentials at Boksburg Home Affairs.

“After the verification process, they drove with him to his house in an estate in Boksburg. Here, they searched the house without a search warrant and confiscated an amount of money,” explained Suping.

Additional information gathered suggests that instead of taking the man to the Boksburg North Police Station, the officers allegedly forced the victim to go to his home, despite his refusal.

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They allegedly made him open the gate using his access code. When the caretaker intervened, the officers reportedly claimed that they didn’t need a search warrant to enter the property.

The officers then searched the victim’s home and found R120 000 in cash, which they allegedly took. They then took the driver to the Boksburg EMPD precinct, where they gave back his car and let him go without laying any charges against him.

The victim later opened a case against the officers, leading to a preliminary investigation by Boksburg North SAPS. The matter was taken to court where the NPA advised Boksburg SAPS to refer the matter to IPID as it involved police officers.

IPID finalised its investigation and referred the matter to the South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, which decided that the six members of EMPD must be charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances as defined in terms of Section 1 of Act 51 of 1977 or alternative theft and defeating/obstructing the administration of justice.
Warrants of arrest were then issued.