The transfer of an anti-corruption unit detective to another branch has caused a major hiccup in a Cape Town Magistrate’s Court case involving two police officials and six police reservists facing charges of theft and corruption.
On Friday, prosecutor Bonita Swartz was unable to explain why, in a period of three months, the case had not been referred to the Western Cape directorate for public prosecutions (DPP) for a decision, as it was supposed to have been.
She told magistrate Alta le Roux that the investigating officer, Captain JP Jenkins, had been moved to another branch, but she could not explain why the case had not yet been sent to the DPP.
Although defence lawyers Reaz Khan and Jacques van Dyk objected to Swartz’s request for a postponement to May 26 — for the DPP’s decision — the magistrate allowed it, but warned that no further postponements would be allowed.
Before the court were Yagya Stenekamp (35), Dean Fortune (39), Moegamat Toyer (41) and Paul Francis Simon (37). With them were Samuel Engelbrecht (34), Julian Bosser (27), Nashief Ravens (27) and David Jonathon Moore (47).
At their first appearance in January, it was disclosed that Bosser, with a law degree, was attached to the police intelligence division, and that Ravens was a constable based at Woodstock.
At that hearing, Swartz said the men were charged with theft involving R10 000, but that 23 further charges of corruption were likely to be added.
She said the men, as police officials, were supposed to protect the public but instead had abused their authority to steal from people. She alleged they had used a warrant to enter a home where they had stolen money, DVDs and other items.
She alleged the Woodstock police station was notorious for corruption, and said this investigation was not the first involving Woodstock.
With the exception of Bosser and Ravens, who are out on R2 000 bail, the others are on bail of R1 500.
Khan said Stenekamp worked for a fashion concern and had been a reservist for 12 years.
He said Fortune was a security guard and had been a reservist for five years. Toyer was a registrar (clerk) at the Cape High Court, and had been a reservist for 10 years.
Simon was also a security guard, and had been a reservist for 13 years. Engelbrecht, also a security guard, had been a reservist for 10 years, while Moore, a Telkom technician, had served as a reservist for 12 years, he said
They were warned to appear in court again on May 26.
In the same court on Friday, Bosser and Ravens made their second appearance with Michael Pietersen (41) on charges of defeating the ends of justice, perjury and the illegal possession of a firearm.
No details of the charges were given. On these charges, the three are out on R1 000 bail.
This case was also postponed to May 26, with a similar warning that no further postponements would be brooked. — Sapa