Central SA
Former Free State Home Affairs official behind bars─── BAMBATHA GIKO 10:00 Sat, 25 Mar 2023
A former Free State immigration officer has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for corruption.
Ezekiel Mokhachane appeared in the Zastron Regional Court on Thursday (23/3) for withholding travelling documents of asylum seekers and demanding R3 000 for the release thereof in 2017.
Mokhachane made his first court appearance in May 2017 together with his then co-accused, Simon Ndebele, for demanding bribes from Pakistani citizens.
According to Free State Hawks spokesperson S’fsio Nyakane the duo visited the foreigners at the shop during a routine visit, which formed part of their duties. After requesting the foreigners' identification, they forcibly took the passports and demanded money.
LEES OOK: Valke keer Zastron-amptenare aan weens korrupsie
Mokhachane was arrested after the victims reported the matter to the Hawks.
Meanwhile, Simon Ndebele has been acquitted due to insufficient evidence against him during the trial, said Free State Hawks spokesperson Christopher Singo.
