Also read: State prosecutor and police officers granted bail
GAUTENG. – Adv. Avinash Ramapararat (45), a prosecutor from the Pretoria specialized commercial crime unit (SCCU), Sgt. Herman Mnguni (46), and Const. Abdul Shaik (35), both from the Wierdabrug police station, appeared in the Pretoria magistrate’s court on two charges of extortion and two charges of corruption.
Lumka Mahanjana, spokesperson for the NPA, stated that the accused appeared in court on two charges of extortion involving R100 000 and R300 000, and two charges of corruption also involving R100 000 and R300 000. The schedule 5 bail application was not opposed.
“It is alleged that they extorted money from a businessman who is the complainant in the case against them.”
The businessman was reportedly arrested for fraud on June 28. Ramapararat and Shaik allegedly approached him and requested R300 000 for his release. The businessman called his partner, and the money was paid. After his release, the accused reportedly continued to demand money from him, leading him to report the matter to the police.
“An investigation was launched by detectives from the national anti-corruption investigation unit, and a trap was set in which the complainant paid Mnguni R100 000. The trap led to the arrest of the two police officers on October 25 and 26. The prosecutor was later arrested on October 31.”
The case has been postponed to November 4 for a bail decision, and the suspects remain in custody.
(Photo: Pretoria Magistrate’s Court)
Also read: State prosecutor and police officers granted bail
