/ 16 January 2006

Police officer allegedly hires gun to hijackers

The Johannesburg metro police on Monday condemned the alleged involvement of one of their officers in the hijacking of a car in Berea at the weekend.

Spokesperson Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the 25-year-old officer allegedly hired out his service pistol for R150 to three hijackers.

A Tracker recovery team traced the hijacked white Golf to Senaoane in Soweto, and then called the police.

Minnaar said a hijacker has since identified his accomplices and told police the gun used in the hijacking was that of the metro police officer.

”We view these allegations in a serious light. The man will appear before a disciplinary committee soon, where he will surely be dismissed.”

Minnaar said the officer has been with the department for six months and that he, like the others, was thoroughly screened for any criminal record,

The officer and the other three men are expected to appear in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. — Sapa