Acquitted cops to sue Cele for wrongful arrest

A group of Eastern Cape police officers arrested in April 2018 for fraud and corruption are preparing to sue police minister Bheki Cele for wrongful arrest.

This was confirmed on Thursday by advocate Mike Maseti, who represented 14 of the 17 officers.

The other three are represented by different lawyers.

The 17, all members of the East London Port of Entry division, were accused of inflating their travel and accommodation allowances in December 2016.

On Wednesday they were acquitted in the East London magistrate’s court.

Magistrate Kevin von Bratt ruled that the state’s case was weak and circumstantial, and that there was no prima facie evidence presented by it that directly linked the group to any wrongdoing.

At the closure of the state’s case, Maseti applied for his clients to be acquitted.

The exonerated officers are captains Melanie Zanda and Nomzamo Badli, constables Likhaya Ngcobondwana, Lulama Princess Lusiti, Monde Tiso, Zingisile Booi, Lindelwa Nkolose, Aphiwe Mangesi, Tabang Moletsana, Andile Sibawu, Siphokazi Loliwe, Bongani Valisi, Edgar Ndlovu, Sithembiso Kofi, Xolisa Lawana, Monde Tyali and Ntsikelelo Njokweni.

Maseti said on Thursday that he had been instructed by his clients to sue Cele for wrongful arrest.

National Prosecuting Authority’s regional spokesperson Tsepo Ndwalaza did not answer questions sent to his office on Thursday, while national police spokesperson Vish Naidoo, who commented on the matter when the arrests were made, could not be reached for a comment on the court ruling.

Magistrate Kevin von Bratt ruled that that there was no prima facie evidence