Staff Reporter
Two men are behind bars in the Free State after police threw the book at them when they tried to offer bribes in separate incidents at the weekend.
In Phuthaditjhaba, an attempt by a 47-year-old man — found in possession of a suspected stolen vehicle, diamonds and money laundering — to bribe the police with R10 000 hit a brick wall.
And in Botshabelo, two attempts by a 39-year-old alleged cigarette smuggler to grease the officer’s palms so they could turn a blind eye to his contraband also failed.
Police say the man with the precious stones was arrested at a house in Bluegumbosch near Phuthaditjhaba at the weekend following a tip-off.
“On arrival at the said house a silver vehicle BMW with NW registration numbers was found and when checked it emerged that it was not reported stolen but had false registration numbers,” the police said in a statement, adding the suspect was also found in possession of a number of other registration numbers.
“On further investigation, ammunition, cellphones, identification documents and stones resembling diamonds and an undisclosed amount of cash were found. The suspect allegedly tried to bribe the police with R10 000 but they refused and arrested him.”
The suspect is facing charges of bribery, possession of suspected stolen vehicle, money laundering and possession of suspected diamonds.
The alleged cigarette smuggler, who is from Ethiopia, was allegedly transporting illicit cigarettes worth over half-a-million rands.
“Boithuso Crime Prevention members were on patrol (when they noticed) a white panel van driving on a gravel (road) . . . stopped it. Police requested (the) prescribed permit from the driver but he failed to produce. The driver was requested to drive to a police station for further interrogation,” the police said.
However, on the way he allegedly stopped and offered police a R5 000 bribe.
He was immediately arrested for bribery.
But desperate to be let go, the man pleaded with the police officers to release him, promising to give them a further R15 000 if they could escort him to his place.
“Police took him to the police station and upon searching the van, they found eight boxes filled with Sun illicit cigarettes with an estimated street value of R636 800,” said the police statement.
A case of dealing and transporting of illicit cigarettes was opened and the panel van was confiscated.
Both suspects are expected in court soon.