A slightly shortened version will appear in a Sunday paper in the morning. Possibly online after midnight............ ALLEGED DIRTY COP ARRESTED FOR ROBBING THE WRONG COPS of RHINO HORNS AT GUN-POINT. Simon Bloch A special joint task-team operation led by the Durban Organised Crime Unit has nabbed a suspected dirty cop for involvement in corrupt activities related to rhino poaching. Shockingly, the arrested man, warrant officer Christopher Gumbi, 48, is also a member of South Africa’s Crime Intelligence Services in Northern Zululand’s Jozini police cluster. He has been charged with armed robbery, possession of rhino horns and defeating the ends of justice. According to a reliable source, Gumbi was arrested after months of surveillance. A trap was set Thursday evening when members of the Durban Organised Crime Unit, National Crime Intelligence Services, Durban Special Task Force and Nyathi Anti Poaching Unit staged a sting operation. Solomon Makgale, spokesman for the of the National Police Commissioner, said Gumbi is alleged to have pointed his weapon at undercover agents posing as poachers, robbed them of two rhino horns, and fled without attempting to arrest them. “The members had two horns and the suspect approached them at gun-point. “He took the two horns before fleeing the scene in a State-owned police vehicle” Magale said. Gumbi was later nabbed with the rhino horns and his police service revolver. At the time the crime was committed, he was driving a state-owned police vehicle disguised with fake registration plates Makgale said. The DA shadow minister for police, Dianne Kohler-Barnard said she believed “the arrest is just the tip of the iceberg. “It has long been suspected that rangers are involved in rhino poaching but to have a crime intelligence officer involved in this most heinous crime, is a terrible indictment of the SAPS”. Gumbi appeared in the Ubombo Magistrates Court on Friday and remains in police custody. The case was remanded until February 27th pending further investigation. In South Africa, rhino poaching has been declared as a national priority crime. However, it is understood that members of the Durban Organised Crime Unit have been thwarted in their efforts and activities investigating organised-crime and rhino poaching. Yesterday, a source who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “The Durban Organised Crime Unit is always featuring in high profile arrests related to rhino poaching, but there are powers at play trying to prevent certain members from doing their job. Questions need to be asked he said. ENDS
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 19:12:38 +0000
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