By REGINALD KANYANE
A man (49) who was arrested for corruption and attempt of corruption to defeat the ends of justice, briefly appeared in Kuruman Magistrate’s Court. Otsile Shadrack Gaegoroge was arrested on 24 June 2024, as an additional suspect in the ongoing fraud and corruption case.
In 2021, the former captain attached to DPCI Serious Organised Crime Investigation, allegedly submitted and recommended an informer’s reward claim of R100 000. The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Warrant Officer Nomthandazo Mnisi said the police’s claim committee approved a payment of R80 000 to the benefit of the said police informer.
“It is further alleged that the accused failed to hand the full amount of R80 000 to the informer, but rather paid the informer an amount of R5000 and paid another R5000 to a police Sergeant, who is stationed at Kuruman Police Station. He then kept the rest of the money amounting to R70 000 for himself.
“The police Sergeant (42) is an accomplice and has been charged alongside the main accused. Gaegoroge who was initially a Section 204 witness, the prosecuting team charged him with corruption and defeating the course of justice or attempting to do so after noting changes on his initial statement,” she said.
Mnisi further said a probe by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team revealed that the informer’s reward claim was fraudulent. She added that the so-called “informer” allegedly recruited by the Sergeant was also charged for defeating the ends of justice connected to the main charge.
“Gaegoroge, who is the fourth accused on this matter was released on R1000 bail and the case is postponed to 15 and 16 August 2024 for a decision,” said Mnisi.
TaungDailyNews 