Staff Reporter
The Free State High Court has granted the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) an order to preserve an amount of R64 900 that was allegedly paid to members of the South African Police Service as a bribe to make a criminal case disappear.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), under which the AFU operates, said the matter dates back to April 23 when police received information that Teboho Benjamin Lushaba, a member of the mayoral committee in Matjhabeng Local Municipality, was in possession of an unlicensed firearm.
Police then went to Lushaba’s residence at 2010 Location in Thabong and searched the place.
“They found an Astra Guernica Spain a-75 pistol with no serial number with three rounds of ammunition in it hidden underneath the headboard,” read part of a statement issued by NPA regional spokesperson Phaladi Shuping on Thursday.
The police also found 18 SSG live ammunition in a plastic bag in the wardrobe and a shotgun which also had no serial number hidden in the ceiling in the bedroom.
Upon searching Lushaba’s BMW and Ford bakkie parked in his neighbour’s yard, the police found more ammunition.
Lushaba could not produce any documents to prove that his possession of the firearms and ammunition was lawful.
“He allegedly approached the police officers and offered them R64 900 as a bribe in return for the case to disappear,” the statement said.
“The police arrested him for alleged bribery and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.”
Advocate Eugene Ontong of the AFU made a submission before the court that the money was unlawfully used in an attempt to get the assistance of the police.
The criminal case against Lushaba was postponed to August 28 for further investigations.