A Free State driving instructor has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for accepting an R5500 bribe to organize a heavy vehicle driving licence for a motorist.
Mr Teboho Ernest Mosia (45) was sentenced by the Bethlehem regional court on Thursday 10 November. He was facing one count of corruption and another count of theft after accepting R5500 from an undercover anti-corruption police agent on the understanding that he will organize for the agent to receive a heavy vehicle driving licence without undergoing the required testing processes.
Mr Mosia disappeared with the money and failed to deliver the driving licence.
The incident took place during Operation Cloud, an anti-corruption law enforcement campaign undertaken by the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s national anti-corruption unit and the Hawks in the Free State two years ago.
Read also: 3 KZN transport officials nabbed for fraudulently issuing drivers’ licences
Two traffic officers and three runners (intermediaries) were arrested during the campaign. They are still on trial in Bethlehem.
The court sentenced Mosia to five years imprisonment on a charge of corruption and five years imprisonment for theft suspended for four years under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
The sentences are to run concurrently, and he is expected to serve eight months in prison.
The RTMC welcomes the sentence and believes that it will serve as a deterrent to others who are involved in this kind of crime.
Members of the public are also encouraged to join the campaign against fraud and corruption by providing information to [email protected] or through the WhatsApp line 083 293 7989.
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