A POLICEWOMAN was convicted of corruption in the Empangeni Regional Court on Wednesday after extorting a bribe of R1 000 from the manager of an eSikhawini chain store.
Cst Makhosi Providence Mkhwanazi of eSikhaleni (32), was found guilty of accepting the cash on 30 January 2013 from Manager David Mhlongo at a restaurant in an eSikhawini shopping complex.
According to evidence led by State Prosecutor Sharon Bux, Mr Mhlongo allegedly assaulted a man caught stealing.
The police were summoned and Mkhwanazi told him if he paid the R1 000 he ‘would be fine’.
Regional Court Magistrate, Mr Ntshangase, in judgement said he was satisfied that the State has proved its case against the accused and that although she was not the investigating officer in the case against Mhlongo, she was very involved in it.
He said there was no explanation for her actions.
The matter was remanded until 9 December for a pre-sentencing report to be prepared for consideration by the court.
The case was investigated by the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID).
