A Lesotho national has lost R320,000 after a failed attempt to bribe police officers at the Maseru Port of Entry in March 2024.
The Free State High Court has granted a forfeiture order on the funds, following an investigation by the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU).
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti said the suspect, Mokhali Sankoela, was caught with a large sum of money he could not account for and allegedly attempted to bribe officers to avoid arrest.
"The forfeiture order emanates from an arrest that was effected by the police at the Maseru Port of Entry, where a 39-year-old Lesotho national was caught in possession of a large sum of money he could not account for and for trying to bribe police officers to avoid his arrest on March 26, 2024," said Matoti.
Following his arrest, a docket was opened and referred to the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit in Bethlehem for further investigation.
The case remains active, and legal proceedings have been postponed to March 17, 2025, at the Ladybrand Commercial Court.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Free State, Major General Mokgadi Bokaba, commended law enforcement officials for securing the forfeiture order.
IOL News