Central SA
Free State cops granted bail after liquor spending spree─── ZENANDE MPAME 06:00 Tue, 04 Feb 2025
Three Free State police officers will appear in the Harrismith Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 6 March for allegedly going on a spending spree with a stolen bank card.
The trio made a brief appearance in the same court on Monday (3/2) for a bail application after they were remanded in custody after their court appearances on Thursday. They face charges of theft and corruption
Const. Tumelo Mokone (36), Sgt Tieho Tieho (42), and Sgt Lucky Kubheka (43) – all members of the visible policing unit at Verkykerskop, 40km outside Harrismith – were arrested after they allegedly used the card to buy an undisclosed quantity of alcohol.
“The three officers were granted bail when they appeared in court on Monday,” said Free State NPA spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane. “The case was postponed to March for a pre-trial conference.”
‘The police were later captured on video footage purchasing liquor’
The suspects were arrested in Harrismith following an investigation regarding an incident entailing the use of the complainant’s bank card in December 2023. A police officer reportedly found the card in a local ATM where the complainant had forgotten it after withdrawing cash, said Free State police spokesperson Lorraine Earle.
“Along with his two colleagues, they were later captured on video footage purchasing liquor at three different liquor stores using the stolen bank card by tapping it for payments.”
After a case was registered, the officers allegedly approached the complainant, attempting to bribe him with R1,000 to drop the case. The complainant refused and proceeded with legal action, she said.
Meanwhile, the Free State provincial commissioner has taken note of a viral video circulating of a complainant who claims to have been assaulted by female police officers in the Heidedal police station.
“The police view these allegations with the utmost seriousness and the matter is currently under investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid),” said police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele. “We appeal to the community to allow due process to unfold and to refrain from spreading unverified information that could compromise the integrity of the investigations.”
While we do not condone any form of misconduct or abuse of power by our members, it is equally vital to uphold principles of fairness and due process, this includes allowing the involved members the opportunity to provide their side of the story, he said.
