Another officer in court over bribes

 

• 28 Mar 2013
• Cape Argus
• Jade Otto COURT REPORTER jade.otto@inl.co.za

A GEORGE traffic officer yesterday appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption for allegedly soliciting bribes from drivers.

Benzil Ramati, 43, was arrested on Monday.

Prosecutor Pumlani Mpepuka told the court Ramati is alleged to have taken money from a driver who was due to take his vehicle for a roadworthy test.

Ramati was arrested along with another officer. Police were tipped off that the pair was soliciting bribes and they were monitored.

The other officer, Frickel Terblanche, appeared in the George Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on a charge of corruption.

He was released on R3 000 bail and told to return to court on April 20.

Yesterday, Mpepuka said Ramati would be kept in custody for the Easter weekend as police had to ascertain his bail information, which included his criminal record, whether he had a fixed address and whether he was a flight risk.

The court heard Ramati was from George but would be staying in Cape Town during the case.

The investigating officer therefore had to verify his alternative address before a decision on whether he could be released on bail could be made.

Ramati’s lawyer, Gonville Michaels, asked that his client be held at Brackenfell police station.