/ 8 September 2009

More than 500 police officers guilty of crimes

More than 500 police officers were found guilty in internal hearings last year of crimes including murder, rape, assault, theft and corruption, the Star newspaper reported on Tuesday.

A total of 38 police officers were ”charged with or convicted of murder” during the 2008/09 financial year, 33 were charged with attempted murder and 20 with rape, said Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa.

This emerged in a written reply to a parliamentary question.

During 2008/09, a total of 660 officers were charged with a crime and 538 were found guilty at disciplinary hearings.

The minister could not say how many of these cases went to court. – Sapa