Two patrollers, reservist in court for misconduct

TWO patrollers and a police reservist ignored the code of conduct when they searched a vehicle under diplomatic protection in Pretoria, Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Augustina Selepe said.

The patrollers, Khetinkonsi Hlatshwayo, 32, and Mxolisi Mndebele, 25, and reservist Constable Choene Ngoepe, 31, will appear in court tomorrow to face charges of extortion, common robbery and contravention of the Diplomatic Communities Act.

The trio was accused of robbing the driver and a diplomat of an undisclosed amount of money from a parked vehicle on October 26.

Although they three were initially denied bail last Monday, they eventually secured R500 bail each in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria on Friday.

The patrollers are part of the group deployed to assist police by the Gauteng Department of Community Safety in the CBD and around schools. However, they and the SAPS reservist acted outside the law, Selepe said.

The suspects allegedly approached the driver and a diplomat passenger of the Gabonese Embassy and drove around with them.

They also demanded money from them and subsequently took foreign currency that was in the car.

Selepe said the driver reported the matter to the Pretoria Central SAPS, and station commander Brigadier Reinette Pieterse ensured investigations began immediately.

The suspects were arrested once they had been positively identified.

“The suspects received and knew our code of conduct; we cannot say they did not know they were not supposed to search that vehicle,” Selepe said.