THESE are just some of the recent cases reported in the press of policemen who have fallen foul of the law.
* Three members of the flying squad at Thabong near Welkom in the Free State goldfields have been arrested in connection with a robbery at a hostel in the township. They allegedly stole R450 in cash before driving off in a police van.
* A syndicate of truck hijackers, which included two serving policemen and three former policemen, terrorised truck drivers throughout the Free State for six months before being arrested after a brazen daylight heist went wrong.
Dressed in SAPS uniforms they forced their victims to stop by closing in on them in a vehicle with a flashing blue light, ordered drivers to leave their cabs, got in and drove away.
* A policeman allegedly raped a theft suspect at the Alexandra Police Station near Sandton last weekend. The off-duty officer was allegedly caught in the act by a colleague who went to get the woman’s fingerprints and the alleged rapist was able to flee from the station.
* Two Chatsworth policemen were arrested in connection with the country’s biggest bank robbery when five men wearing balaclavas stole nearly R30-million from the SBV security company in Pinetown outside Durban on August 6.
* Gauteng’s anti-corruption unit is investigating allegations against three police senior superintendents and five superintendents, eight captains, 37 inspectors, 56 sergeants and 47 constables.
* Two ex-policemen who last November stole diamonds worth more than R3-million and helped to conceal the murder of one of their accomplices, were sentenced to eight years imprisonment by the supreme court earlier this month.
* Krugersdorp police sergeant Tjaart Schutte (33) was given three years correctional supervision in May this year after he was found guilty of cutting out a human heart and three gallstones while working at a mortuary in Johannesburg. The organs were sold for R3 500 to be used for muti.
* A police inspector at Motetema in the Northern Province is being investigated for alleged misappropriation of about R3 500 of some R55 000 provided by the provincial police for a peace rally.
* Inspector Darryl Beetge (25) appeared in the Johannesburg Regional Court last month charged with taking part in the illegal confiscation of R600 000 during a fake police raid.
* Police chaplain Captain Barnabus Mavuso was arrested in Swaziland in possession of five assault rifles, a 5mm pistol and 1833 rounds of ammunition along with R12 100 in counterfeit money.
* Senior Superintendent Pregasen Pillay holds convictions for culpable homicide, shoplifting and fraud, but these did not stand in the way of his promotion.
* Two policemen are being investigated in connection with the death of a Vaal Triangle man in June. David Molifi Mosia was allegedly assaulted following a complaint of disturbance of the peace.