By Everson Luhanga
A Johannesburg metro police officer allegedly stole a taxi driver’s Toyota Quantum and sold it to a prison warder who runs a panel-beating business.
Both men have been arrested and detained at the Lenasia South police station.
In his statement to the police, the driver said two off-duty metro police officers pulled his taxi over on Monday at the M1 Xavier Road off-ramp.
Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla said: “One of the two officers who were in their unmarked police Toyota Hilux approached the taxi driver and [told] him that the disc and the number plate of the vehicle did not correspond.
“While the other officer waited in an unmarked JMPD vehicle, the suspect officer impounded the minibus, under the pretence of an investigation into the number plate.
“One of the officers drove the taxi while his colleague drove their police vehicle.”
Instead of going to the Wemmer police vehicle pound, the officer allegedly drove the taxi to the Phumla Mqashi informal settlement in Ekurhuleni while his colleague drove to the pound where he waited for him in vain.
Fihla said the officer unlawfully sold the vehicle to a prison warder who allegedly specialises in illegal vehicle modifications. The vehicle was subsequently recovered at the informal settlement.
The Toyota Quantum’s keys were found at the prison warder’s house in Meredale in southern Johannesburg.
Pictured above: The suspects being arrested.
Image source: Supplied
