Daily News reports that a traffic police officer's yearning for "cool drink money" of a mere R50 landed her in deep trouble with the law.

Thembisile Yende, who was with the Mpumalanga traffic department, was handed a five-year prison sentence on Tuesday, wholly suspended, by the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court for her bribe demand from a motorist. According to the Hawks, officers conducted an undercover operation on 30 March 2022, after weeks of monitoring suspected officials. During the operation, a police agent posing as a motorist was compelled to pay R50 for failing to display vehicle registration plates. Yende was arrested shortly afterwards.

She appeared in court several times before being convicted and sentenced. Her five-year jail term was wholly suspended for five years on condition she was not convicted of a similar offence during that period. Mpumalanga Hawks head, Major General Nico Gerber, said the outcome should serve as a warning to law-enforcement officers involved in corrupt acts. He added that while suspended sentences for corruption “are not the desired outcome”, the Directorate respected the court’s decision.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Daily News

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