SAPS crime intelligence head in the dock for corruption
Khumalo is one of seven senior police members in court, in connection with corruption.
All the accused are senior members of the SAPS.
They face four counts of corruption and fraud amounting to R1 million.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
14 hours ago
- The Citizen
Ballistic reports expected as Marco Schalekamp returns to White River court
It's been more than a month since murder-accused Marco Schalekamp was denied bail on July 8 after he failed to prove the existence of exceptional circumstances during his bail hearing. According to Lowvelder, he is expected to appear in the White River Magistrate's Court on Thursday for his next hearing, in which ballistic reports could be presented to the court. He stands accused of premeditated murder and attempted murder following the fatal shooting of Pieter Burger and the wounding of Arno van Niekerk near the White River Rugby Club in the early hours of June 5. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
The Citizen
15 hours ago
- The Citizen
WATCH: Verdict handed down in Johan Louwrens' six-year-long culpable homicide trial
The Nelspruit Magistrate's Court convicted Johan Louwrens of culpable homicide as well as on a charge of a hit-and-run (alternatively, leaving the scene of an accident) during his appearance today, Wednesday August 20. Magistrate Patrick Morris agreed to an application by the defence that, although Louwrens has been convicted, he be allowed await sentencing at home. ALSO READ: Johan Louwrens's trial set to continue 'Taking into consideration that the accused has been attending the court for so many years, it is the court's ruling that he be released on warning, pending the sentencing date,' said Morris. He postponed the matter to October 3 for sentencing and added that he expected the victim impact statement and the pre-sentencing report to be ready by then. ALSO READ: Nelspruit magistrate postpones judgment in Johan Louwrens' culpable homicide trial When delivering the judgment, Morris pointed out that 17 state witnesses testified during the trial. At least three witnesses testified that they noticed that the white Toyota bakkie that knocked down businesswoman Letisia Niemann (38) outside Mustangs – The Dancing Place at around 23:00 on September 28, 2019 had a puncture. The magistrate said that Louwrens' own evidence, in which he claimed he had hit a ditch and sustained a puncture, corroborated the three witness' testimony. ALSO READ: Nelspruit Magistrate's Court postpones trial of hit-and-run accused He added that although he denied having hit a woman with his bakkie, Louwrens himself had admitted to being at the scene. A vehicle tracking expert also placed Louwrens' bakkie at the scene and gave evidence that Louwrens had been driving recklessly around the time of the accident. Eben Niemann, the victim's husband, testified that he saw Louwrens inside his bakkie shortly after the accident and could positively identify him. Eben told the court that he and his wife were walking along the street outside Mustangs when Louwrens' bakkie knocked her down. 'She was severely injured and I sat next to her while waiting for an ambulance that later took her to Kiaat Hospital.' Evidence suggested the bakkie veered into oncoming traffic before hitting Letisia, who died in hospital shortly afterwards. Louwrens handed himself over to police and was granted R1 500 bail. The case, initially withdrawn due to police bungling, was later reinstated, with Louwrens released on a warning. Meanwhile, Niemann's aunt, Gerida Blignaught, said she was disappointed that Louwrens has been allowed to go home, even though he has been found guilty. She said he was supposed to be sent straight to jail because he had been convicted. @lowvelder Leticia Niemann's aunt, Gerida Blignaut, speaks to Lowvelder outside the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court after Johan Louwrens' judgment was handed down. > Video: Riot Hlatshwayo ♬ original sound – Lowveld Media Niemann's sister, Lizel Boshoff, was equally disappointed and said this was not fair to her deceased sister.
The Citizen
17 hours ago
- The Citizen
Former rhino conservationist among six accused in horn trafficking
Former rhino conservationist among six accused in horn trafficking Six accused, including the founder of a rhino conservation enterprise, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court in connection with an international rhino horn trafficking syndicate, reportedly worth R250-million. They were all granted bail and are expected to return to court on December 9. The group is facing 55 charges, which include multiple counts of racketeering, fraud, contravention of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA), involving 964 rhino horns, contravention of the Riotous Assemblies Act, theft, and money laundering. The accused are: – John Frederick Hume (83), the founder and former owner of the Platinum Rhino Conservation Enterprise. – Clive John Mervan Melville (63), a transport maintenance manager. – Izak Hermanus du Toit (50), a practising attorney. – Elizabeth Catharina van Niekerk (58), a director of a non-profit organisation. – Mattheus Hendrikus Wessels Poggenpoel (37), an insurance broker and part-time farmer. – Johannes Abraham Hennop (52), a game reserve manager. Bail was set at R100 000 for Hume, R10 000 each for Melville and Van Niekerk, and R20 000 each for Du Toit, Poggenpoel, and Hennop. National Prosecuting Authority's spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said it is alleged that between 2017 and 2024, the accused operated an international rhino horn trafficking syndicate and defrauded the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE). 'They allegedly obtained permits to trade rhino horn locally, while intending to channel the horns into illegal international markets in South-east Asia.' Mahanjana stated that the fraudulent scheme is estimated to have involved 964 rhino horns, valued at R250-million. 'After intensive investigations by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation's (DPCI) Wildlife Trafficking Section of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, based at national headquarters, the six handed themselves over at the Pretoria Central Police Station on August 19, where they were formally arrested.' She explained that during bail proceedings, they all asked to be released on bail because they are not flight risks, and had co-operated with the police investigation. She continued that two of the accused, Melville and Poggenpoel, had stated in affidavits that they had previous convictions for fraud and possession of rhino horn, with both paying fines. Poggenpoel also disclosed that he has a case against him pending in the Winburg Magistrate's court in the Free State, because police allegedly found ammunition that was not properly secured, and for which he did not have a permit. Scheduled medicine was also apparently found during this visit. According to Mahanjana, Advocate Patsy Jacobs read an affidavit by investigating officer Edward du Plessis, saying that the State did not oppose bail as the accused are not flight risks, their addresses had been confirmed, and they had co-operated with investigators. The court granted bail to the six with the following conditions: – All accused must hand over their passports and may not apply for new travel documents while the matter is pending. – They must report to their nearest police station once a week. – They may not interfere with investigations, tamper with evidence or influence witnesses. – They must not commit any further offences while on bail. ALSO READ: Six alleged international rhino horn traffickers to appear in Pretoria court Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
