Six of the suspects are former police officers, two are currently serving as police officers, one is an administrative clerk and the rest are civilians linked to the supplier.
PRETORIA – Fifteen suspects were arrested on Monday in connection with corruption at the SAPS relating to the acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPE) valued at R1.9 million.
Six of the suspects are former police officers, two are currently serving as police officers and one is an administrative clerk. The rest of the suspects are civilians linked to the supplier.
National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said the accused were arrested in the early hours of Monday in Gauteng and Limpopo.
Mathe said they had been charged with fraud, theft, corruption and forgery arising from a scheme to unlawfully benefit a third-party supplier of latex gloves for the SAPS nationally in April 2020.
“The arrests flow from a wide-ranging investigation into procurement and supply chain management at SAPS. The investigation has uncovered the award of numerous contracts for the benefit of third-party front companies, which in turn facilitate kickbacks to senior SAPS officials.”
Mathe said more arrests relating to police corruption could be expected.
All 15 suspects are expected to appear at the Palm Ridge Specialised Crimes Court on Tuesday.
