A senior officer at the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) in Durban has been arrested for alleged fraud and corruption.

The 53-year-old member was arrested in his office today, following allegations that he solicited a R28 000 bribe.

It has been alleged that the senior official was approached to assist in a case of a person who went missing in 2008.

According to police, he allegedly demanded a R40 000 bribe, which would be used to assist his ailing wife at the time.

A counter-offer of R28 000 was suggested to the suspect and the payments were made in 2010 and 2011.

“The case of the missing person must still be resolved. The angry family then reported the matter at the Chatsworth Police Station in February this year which led to his arrest today.”

The Acting Head of the DPCI, Major General Mthandazo Ntlemeza, was saddened about the senior officer being accused of a serious atrocity.

“I have said and we say it again, that no DPCI official is above the law. We are the defenders of law and order and we cannot afford to fail the people who rely on us for safety and security,” said Ntlemeza. 

The Major General said there is no room for corrupt police officers in the DPCI and “we will continue to ensure that all police officers with criminal mindsets are removed from the Hawks”. 

The senior member is expected to appear in the Durban Commercial Crime Court on charges of fraud and corruption.