TimesLIVE reports that the Gqeberha High Court has granted the Hawks Eastern Cape's priority crime specialised investigation (PCSI) unit a forfeiture order worth R158,000 in a bribery matter involving two police officers.

In December 2022, the East London-based Hawks’ serious corruption investigation unit received a tip-off about a police officer. Hawks spokesperson Capt Yolisa Mgolodela explained: “W/O Richard Ntokozo Zungu, stationed at New Brighton police station detectives’ section, was allegedly going to sell a double police murder case docket for R20,000 and allegedly did so. Due to the quick action of the investigation team, the accused was caught and arrested in possession of the cash in his vehicle, a white Toyota Corolla worth R138,000, which was used during the crime and was seized during the operation. His co-accused, Sgt Luyanda Innocent Maneli, attached at Swartkops police station, was later arrested after a preliminary investigation, which alleged that the duo connived to commit crime.” The matter was referred to the PCSI in Gqeberha for an asset forfeiture investigation and a preservation order was granted through the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit last Tuesday. This was for “cash accrued through criminal activities worth R20,000 and a vehicle used as instrumentality worth R138,000”. Zungu and Maneli have since been suspended from the police service and their salaries stopped. They have been remanded in custody since their arrest and are expected back in court on 22 August.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khanyisile Ngcobo at BusinessLive

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