Cop jailed for fraud out on R2 000 bail

A CONVICTED police detective, jailed for five years for fraud, has been released pending the outcome of an appeal to have her prison term overturned.

Former constable Lusanda Mpongoma was convicted of fraud and corruption in April and sentenced to five years in jail for accepting a R1 600 bribe.

Mpongoma’s attorney, Theuns Roelofse, said due to the magistrate originally denying Mpongoma’s leave to appeal, a petition was lodged with the Grahamstown High Court.

The appeal was granted and Mpongoma was released from the East London Female Correctional Centre on November, 21 after paying R2 000 bail.

Mpongoma’s conviction stems from a fraud case she was investigating in October 2011.

The case saw a woman lay a charge after she claimed her Edgars account was used to buy a pair of sunglasses without her permission.

On November 29 the complainant said she no longer wanted to continue with the matter and the docket was closed.

But in January 2012 Mpongoma told the suspect that she would have the matter withdrawn if he paid her R1 600.

She did not tell him the case had already been closed.

The money was paid and Mpongoma pocketed the cash.

Eastern Cape Correctional Service commissioner Nkosinathi Breakfast confirmed that Mpongoma had been released from the East London Female Correctional Centre on November 21 after spending three months in custody.

During Mpongoma’s sentencing Port Elizabeth Regional Court magistrate Vijay Reddy said that corruption was one of the greatest threats to society and could not go unpunished.

At the time Mpongoma was based at the Gelvandale police station before being transferred to the Nerina Child Justice Centre while her case continued in court.

The date of the appeal has yet to be established.