On 15 April 2024, the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court sentenced a traffic officer, Tshiya Desmond Pule (43), for two counts of corruption.
On 29 August 2017, a female complainant reported that Pule had demanded R5 00 gratification from her to avoid being arrested for a traffic violation. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the accused demanded a further R1 500 from another victim.
Members of Bloemfontein Serious Corruption Investigation collected evidence and presented their case before the prosecution. The latter authorised a warrant for Pule’s arrest. He appeared in court a number of times before his sentencing.
Tshiya Desmond Pule was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for each count of corruption. The sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective five years prison term. In addition, the accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm.
In welcoming the sentencing, Free State Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Major General Mokgadi Bokaba has praised the detectives for their hard work. “More importantly, we thank those who exposed the officer’s corrupt ways,” she said.
