Former commissioner convicted of corruption

FORMER provincial police top cop Arno Lamoer has been found guilty of corruption and acquitted on charges of money laundering and racketeering in the Western Cape High Court.

Yesterday, Judge Rosheni Allie convicted Lamoer and two colleagues, Brigadier Darius van der Ross and Brigadier Colin Govender, as well as businessman Salim Dawjee on charges of corruption.

Dawjee was further convicted of fraud and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

In his guilty plea Lamoer confessed to having received money from Dawjee from December 2011 to September 2013.

“I accordingly admit that I wrongfully/ unlawfully and intentionally gave a letter of good standing to accused number one (Dawjee) for the benefit of the accused.

“I admit that my intention to commit the crime was dolus eventualis, as when I gave the letter of good standing I foresaw as a possibility that such a letter would play a role as prescribed,” he pleaded.

Dawjee, in his plea, told the court he and Lamoer had been friends for 25 years. They met in Manenberg where he was a petrol attendant and Lamoer was a constable at the local police station.

He said from 2011 to 2013, Lamoer ran into financial difficulties and he had loaned Lamoer about R67 000.

Dawjee said he also paid for Lamoer’s holiday accommodation on the Garden Route and his vehicle hiring. But all the money was paid back when Lamoer received his retirement settlement.

The four accused and Govender’s wife, Brigadier Sharon Govender, had faced 109 charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering charges.

Judge Allie acquitted Lamoer, Van der Ross and Colin Govender of money laundering and racketeering charges.

Sharon Govender was acquitted on all charges as State prosecutor Billy Downer had indicated the State’s wish to have the charges against her withdrawn

Dawjee was acquitted on charges including trading a firearm without a licence.