Nine held over bribes

NINE government officials have been arrested for allegedly releasing 36 female parolees illegally over a period of more than a year.

This was announced by the police and the departments of Home Affairs and Correctional Services in Pretoria yesterday.

“The foreign parolees‚ most of whom were drug smugglers or drug mules‚ had to be released and deported to their country of origin through Lindela deportation centre. Instead they were sent directly to the Johannesburg Department of Home Affairs regional office for an unprocedural and illegal early release‚” said a joint statement.

Family or friends of the parolees allegedly paid bribes into the bank accounts of Home Affairs or Correctional Services officials.

“At times‚ the officials would demand bribes of R3 000 for those from African countries and R6 000 for those from outside Africa.”

The state’s case is the Correctional Services officials falsified documents which enabled Home Affairs officials to create false release documents to help inmates flee from or remain in South Africa.

“The Minister of Home Affairs has directed the department to review the internal control measures as well as the delegation of powers.”

The nine government officials were arrested during a raid on Friday morning. One suspect remains at large and another died in a car crash last month. The nine were due to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday. —