Two cops charged with corruption

TWO POLICE officials, accused of demanding money for the release of a drunken driving suspect, appeared in court yesterday.

Mzoxolo Toto, 32, and Khululekani Mndlunya, 34, both formerly based at the Nyanga police station, are charged with extortion, corruption and assault.

They appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court before magistrate Sabrina Sonnenberg, who told them to appear in court again on April 7.

According to the charge sheet, the two were on patrol in the early hours of the morning in June 2013 when they stopped a car and accused the driver, Sisa Yanta, of drunk driving.

They told Yanta they were taking him to the Athlone police station, and Yanta said he needed to be at work early in the morning.

Prosecutor Xolile Jonas alleges they suggested to Yanta that they “talk about it”. Yanta understood this to mean that they wanted money, and offered them R50.

According to the charge sheet, when they laughed at his offer, Yanta offered to get more money from his father, and they followed him to his parental home.

The two policemen became suspicious when Yanta’s father started asking “too many questions”, and called for backup.

Seven police vehicles arrived, and the father and son were arrested. The father was assaulted in the process.