By Kopano Dibakwane
A court interpreter at Mhala regional court(Bushbuckridge), Timothy Sibuyi(46),appeared at the same court on Monday and was released on R5000 bail after he was arrested for allegedly soliciting gratification.
According to Hawks provincial spokesperson, captain Dineo Sekgotodi, Sibuyi’s court appearance follows a warrant of arrest that was issued by the Hawks Neslpruit-based Serious Corruption Investigation team.
Sekgotodi said it is alleged that Sibuyi approached the brother of a rape suspect on 17 November 2022 and offered to organise a legal representative for his brother who was arrested on the said charge, but the assistance came at a monetary cost.
” When the complainant offered him R1000, he refused, stating that the money was too little and he demanded R2500. The money was raised by the family and was deposited into his Capitec bank account.
” The complainant reported the matter to the police and the case was transferred to Nelspruit Serious Corruption Investigation for further probe,” said Sekgotodi.
The accused allegedly approached the mother of the complainant and paid back R2000 after hearing that a case was opened against him. He also reportedly promised to settle the outstanding amount at a later stage.
Sekgotodi also said that another interpreter (Zizwe Zitha) at the magistrate’s court in Calcutta, was arrested after being caught using the same modus operandi. Zitha’s case was reportedly transferred to the Nelspruit regional court, scheduled to be heard on 19 November this year.
Provincial head of the Hawks, major-general Nicholas Gerber, applauded his team for finalising the case speedily, while urging community members to report such cases. He furthermore warned all officials to serve the county with integrity and not enrich themselves by exploiting the vulnerabilities of citizens.
” That is not an isolated incident. Corruption will not stop if we as citizens do not report and say, enough is enough”!
Sibuyi’s case was postponed to 16 October this year.
