Cop smuggles drugs to prisoners

2011-05-09

A Western Cape police sergeant was convicted on Monday of smuggling drugs to prisoners in court holding cells.

Sergeant Thembinkosi Moriat Keya, who was based at the Khayelitsha Magistrate's Court, was found guilty by the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court

Magistrate Amrith Chabillal postponed the case to June 21 for sentencing proceedings.

Initially, Keya wished to plead not guilty, but changed his mind on the advice of defence attorney Shamiema Petersen.

Prosecutor Max Orban told the court authorisation for an undercover operation to expose corrupt police members was given in August last year.

According to the charge sheet, the trap was conducted by a police captain, who made use of two agents.

The captain obtained drugs and cash in the prescribed manner, for use in the operation.

He handed R1 000 in cash, and a packet containing the drug "tik" to one of the two agents, who gave it to Keya to hand to the second agent, named as "Otto".

At the time, Otto was booked into the cells under a fictitious case.

According to the charge sheet, Keya agreed to receive the tik, and to give it to Otto, for a R500 reward.

As soon as Otto received the tik in the holding cells, Keya was arrested and the tik sealed and sent for forensic analysis.


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