Durban | Thursday
The deputy head of the KwaZulu-Natal organised crime unit on Wednesday testified in the Durban Regional Court that an illegal casino owner had tried to bribe him with a ”pack of notes” in a well-known city pub.
Andrew Ludick was testifying in the trial of his former superior, Senior Superintendent Piet Meyer, who is facing 18 charges including theft, corruption, fraud and defeating the end of justice.
The charges relate to Meyer allegedly accepting thousands of rands in bribe money from illegal casino owners, in exchange for not shutting down their operations.
Meyer was head of the organised crime unit in Durban and tasked with rooting out illegal casino operators.
Ludick said he and Meyer had gone to the Smugglers Inn pub shortly before Christmas in 1996 where they were joined by illegal casino owner Thys Steytler.
When Meyer went to the toilet, Steytler allegedly offered Ludick a ”thick pack of notes”.
”It was a lot of money,” Ludick testified.
Steytler told Ludick that it was ”something for Christmas” because he had known him for so long.
Meyer, who has denied all the charges against him, allegedly agreed with Steytler to be paid R45 000 between 1996 and 1997 for not closing down Steytler’s illegal casinos.
The State is alleging that Meyer agreed with three illegal casino owners to be paid a total of about R400 000 in bribe money between 1996 and 1998.
Ludick on Wednesday told the court that he had refused the money Steytler offered to him.
He told Steytler that he would borrow money if he needed it.
He testified that he had borrowed R2 000 from Steytler on a previous occasion when his wife’s car had broken down. Ludick said he repaid the money.
He also testified that the Monday morning after their visit to the pub, Meyer had asked him if Steytler had given him an envelope.
He told Meyer that he had refused the offer and Meyer walked away.
The trial continues. – Sapa