- Detective Sergeant Klaas Mulungwa allegedly misled the court to help release a rape suspect.
- He was once praised for solving gender-based violence cases and securing long jail terms.
A Limpopo detective once praised for putting child rapists behind bars has been arrested for corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
Detective Sergeant Klaas Mulungwa was arrested on Tuesday while on duty by the provincial anti-corruption unit and the Tactical Response Team.
He is accused of failing to escort a rape suspect for mental observation and then allegedly helping him get released without a bail application.
Mulungwa works in the Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
He allegedly misled the prosecutor by claiming bail was not opposed — even though he had no authorisation to do so.
The accused rapist was released the same day.
The arrest comes after an investigation by the Limpopo anti-corruption unit into the February incident last year.
Mulungwa, 46, has worked in the unit for 16 years and was recently praised by Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.
She praised him for securing a 110-year sentence and a life term for six child rapists.
He has solved several high-profile gender-based violence cases — including the case of a 50-year-old man jailed for 25 years after raping his 12-year-old stepdaughter and exposing her to pornographic material.
Mulungwa appeared in the Ritavi Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. He was released on R1,000 bail and is expected back in court on 25 April.
Pictured above: Detective Sergeant Klaas Mulungwa on the right.
Image source: Supplied by SAPS
