A Durban dog unit constable who pleaded guilty to graft has been given a suspended sentence and three years’ house arrest.
|||Durban - A Durban dog unit constable who pleaded guilty to graft has been given a suspended sentence and three years’ house arrest.
On wednesday, Dhanasagren Naicker, 39, of Phoenix, admitted in the Durban Regional Court that on June 21, 2011, he accepted R5 000 from Vusumuzi Mhlongo, at a petrol station in Parlock, Durban, so that charges against Mhlongo would not be pursued.
In December 2010, Naicker assisted in a probe of Mhlongo, who was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of firearms. In his statement Naicker said he played no part in recovering the firearms and he had only received the pistol from Mhlongo’s mother.
When the trial was set down in June 2011, Naicker was not subpoenaed to attend as a witness.
He said his colleague, a Warrant Officer Moodley, who recovered the firearm, was unable to attend court. The matter did not proceed and due to the State being refused an adjournment, charges against Mhlongo were withdrawn.
Normally, once a docket is returned to the station the matter is enrolled again and the complainant prosecuted afresh. One of Naicker’s informants made inquiries about the charges on behalf of Mhlongo.
Naicker admitted using this chance to ask for money from Mhlongo - in exchange, he and Moodley would try to prevent the reinstatement of charges.
Magistrate Trevor Levitt sentenced Naicker to an eight-year suspended sentence and three years’ house arrest and community service.
rizwana.umar@inl.co.za
Daily News