Sam Holdings owner Sam Mshengu Chabalala has been remanded in custody in yet another corruption case in which he allegedly attempted to corrupt a senior police official to get his impounded Mercedes G Wagon released.
Chabalala (25) was arrested last Thursday for corruption after allegedly paying a R120 000 bribe to a senior police official.
He was initially arrested last year and charged for fraud, corruption and possession of an unlicensed firearm. He was out on R200 000 bail following his arrest in September last year.
According to the Hawks’ Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, Chabalala attempted to bribe a senior official with R120 000 cash in return for his impounded vehicle and to make his other case disappear.
Mshengu’s latest arrest comes following claims that he tried to bribe a senior police officer in Mpumalanga into releasing his impounded vehicle and make his initial case disappear.
He is alleged to have paid R50 000 as a down payment and further added R70 000.
He appeared in court on Friday for two charges of corruption, where the case was postponed to Tuesday.
Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation has applauded the quick response of the investigating team.
“I would like to commend the members of the DPCI who resisted the temptation by those who want to corrupt them. We shall be working towards forfeiting the money paid as gratification,” said General Lebeya.
Processes to ensure that Mshengu forfeits the R120 000 bribe money he paid are already underway.
