The former Warrant Officer Frederick George was slapped with 50 years jail time after he was found guilty and sentenced by the Odendaalsrus Regional Court in the Free State on Monday 19 July 2021. This is according to the statement that was issued by the Free State South African Police Services (SAPS) spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele. The 50-year-old suspect was handed 15 years jail time for corruption, 15 years for theft of a laptop, 15 years for theft of police case dockets, and 5 years imprisonment for defeating the ends of justice.

According to Makhele, on 20 January 2021 at about 13:00, George approached the suspect who was charged with reckless and negligent driving, and promised him that he will steal the police docket and sell it for R5000. The incident was reported to the provincial Anti-Corruption Unit and entrapment was arranged, which led to further investigation. 

After the exchange of the agreed amount between the police officer and the suspect, the Anti-Corruption Unit went on to search the house of the suspected police officer and the R5000 cash amount was found in his possession, the receipt of a pawn shop was also discovered in his house, showing that he had sold a state laptop. The laptop was recovered from the pawn shop in Odendaalsrus and seized, as it was stolen.

Following thorough investigations by Detective Sergeant Vusimuzi Ngomane of the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit, George was dismissed from the SAPS and arrested. 

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi