Corrupt former top cops sent to jail
HE rose through the ranks to become the top cop in the province but his descent down the stairs to the court cells, as he begins his prison sentence, was symbolic of the fall from grace of Brigadier Arno Lamoer.
Lamoer, along with two senior police officers, Brigadier Darius van der Ross and Brigadier Colin Govender, as well as businessman Salim Dawjee faced 109 charges of corruption, racketeering and money laundering involving R1.6 million.
Presiding Judge Rosheni Allie sentenced Lamoer and Dawjee both to an effective six years in prison. Van der Ross was sentenced to two years and Govender an effective four years. All the accused received suspended sentences of two years each.
The senior police officers had received bribes from Dawjee in return for favours.
Dressed in a black suit, Lamoer, 57, waved goodbye to friends and family in the gallery. As he and his co-accused walked down to the cells, heartbroken family members sobbed while some offered the men encouraging words.
In sentencing, Judge Allie made reference to the trial of former national police commissioner Jackie Selebi, who was sentenced to 15 years for receiving bribes from drug traffickers.
“The courts must send a strong message that corruption won’t be tolerated. Corruption in the police force can’t be tolerated,” she said.
Judge Allie said Lamoer, Van der Ross and Govender had together about 80 years of service in the police.
“It beggars belief for me that none of the officers thought receiving financial assistance from accused one (Dawjee), and then according him favour or preferential treatment in their capacity as police officers, constitutes corruption,” she said.
In a probation officers’ report, Lamoer and Govender said they didn’t believe that they were committing corruption.
“In the case of accused four and six (Lamoer and Govender) they allegedly believed they were merely accepting financial support from a relative or long-standing friend. It is inconceivable that senior members of the police force would not have realised that they were committing corruption.”
Dawjee admitted to giving Lamoer about R54 000, from 2011 to 2013, when he ran into financial difficulties. “In his mind (Dawjee) it’s you scratch my back and I scratch yours,” Judge Allie said. She found it incomprehensible that the officers, who came from humble socio-economic conditions and succeeded in acquiring further education and skills, would place their careers in jeopardy.
“Accused one (Dawjee) peddled influence to receive preferential treatment and favours. He used the SAPS as his own fiefdom.”
The case also endured countless postponements because of Dawjee’s poor health.
THE prison sentences handed down to senior cops, including former Western Cape police commissioner Arno Lamoer, have been welcomed as a step in the right direction.
Yesterday, the Western Cape High Court handed jail time to senior officers for fraud and corruption.
Presiding Judge Rosheni Allie sentenced Lamoer to an effective six years.
His co-accused, businessman Salim Dawjee, also got six years, Brigadier Darius van der Ross two years and Brigadier Colin Govender an effective four years – all the accused were given suspended sentences of two years.
Social Justice Coalition’s Dalli Weyers said they welcomed the sentence.
“We are happy that the State is capable of sentencing those in power. People in the police are elevated into positions of power and often we have discovered that these commissioners seem to have skeletons in their closets. This case should give the SAPS an opportunity to re-evaluate how commissioners are appointed and what the criteria is,” he said.
Chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on police Francois Beukman said the sentences sent a clear message that the rule of law must be adhered to.
“We are of the view that the sentence will serve as a deterrent to any police officer not to engage in acts of corruption. Furthermore, the sentence will serve to reassure the public that no one is above the law.”
Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said the sentence brought to finality a regrettable stain on the image of police in the province.
“This sordid ordeal has caused much pain and embarrassment for the dedicated men and women in blue who serve our communities with diligence under difficult circumstances and often with constrained support and resources,” he said.