Popcru boss nabbed for ‘plot to kill officials’
Mdletshe linked to web of crime
After days on a wanted list‚ police union boss Zwelinkosi Reuben Mdletshe has been arrested.
The Hawks said Mdletshe, who is the CEO of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), and another man identified by the police as Robert Sherriff‚ were linked to an alleged plot to murder prominent union officials.
“The two suspects, Mdletshe and Sherriff‚ were arrested by members of the Hawks’ serious corruption investigation unit and they will appear at Kempton Park tomorrow [today]‚” said Capt Dineo Sekgotedi.
Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi last week said warrants of arrest were issued by the Kempton Park magistrate’s court. “Their pursuit comes in the wake of an apparent elaborate plot to kidnap and murder current serving members within the leadership of Popcru‚” said Mulaudzi.
“The investigation commenced in September. So far it has revealed that there was an apparent misappropriation of funds that was carried out through Popcru Investment Group of Companies. These substantial transactions were allegedly embezzled since 2016.” The alleged murder plot was unravelled when a man‚ said to have been hired to carry out the killings‚ was arrested.
“A Lesotho national‚ Neo Letele‚ was arrested in Kempton Park on November 6. Letele is apparently the middleman who was instructed … to source the assassin‚ who was to be paid R1m to execute the hit. This was in an attempt to silence those who wanted the two suspects to account for the funds‚” said Mulaudzi.
Letele‚ 34‚ has appeared in court twice. He’s scheduled to to apply for bail today.