Johannesburg – A North West police constable has been arrested for alleged possession of R250 000 worth of platinum after the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) raided his house in Rustenburg on Thursday.
“The Hawks were acting on information which alleged that the constable’s residence was being used as lab for smelting platinum. When the officers raided his house they found platinum concentrate estimated to be worth over R250 000. Also found in the house were pots and a gas bottle alleged to have been used to smelt the platinum. The equipment and the platinum concentrate have been seized,” said spokesperson Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso.
The 33-year-old constable was stationed at Mogwase police station. He is expected to appear in the Mogwase Magistrate’s Court on Friday to face charges of unlawful possession of the precious metal.
The Guardian 