OWN CORRESPONDENT, East London | Thursday 7.30pm
A POLICEMAN charged with allegedly allowing a recaptured prisoner to escape again for R20 and two beers appeared in an Eastern Cape court on Thursday.
Constable Dumile Sahluko was arrested on Tuesday and charged with allowing a prisoner to escape, defeating the ends of justice and extortion after releasing Xola Mdlovu (19) from a police station near East London, police spokesman Captain Shannon Kirkhoff said.
This was Mdlovu’s second known escape from prison. His first escape was as part of a mass Mdantsane Magistrate’s Courtbreakout last month in which 18 prisoners fled following the shooting of two policemen.
Mdlovu was in the court applying for bail for charges of housebreaking and theft when the police guards were shot and he joined the mass breakout. He was rearrested on April 28.
The following day Sahluko allegedly approached Mdlovu and offered to release him to allow him to gather his bail in return for two beers and R20. For security, he insisted that the prisoner leave behind some of his clothing to ensure that he would return with the cash and the alcohol.
The court heard that Mdlovu failed to raise the funds and did not return. He showed up at the station again, however on April 30 to reclaim his clothing. He told a policewoman who he was and demanded the return of his clothing. She recognised his name, handed him his clothing and had him rearrested and detained again.