Dozen High-Ranking South African Police Officials Detained in Graft Probe

Anti-corruption investigators in South Africa have taken into custody 12 senior law enforcement officials on charges related to fraud and corruption. The detentions are part of broader investigations into alleged misconduct within the nation's police force that were initiated by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Anti-corruption authorities in South Africa have taken into custody 12 high-ranking law enforcement officials on charges of fraud and corruption, according to prosecutors who announced the arrests Wednesday.

The detained officials made their court appearance later that day in Pretoria, the nation’s capital city.

These detentions occur as investigations continue examining claims of widespread corruption among South Africa’s top police leadership. President Cyril Ramaphosa initiated these inquiries and also removed the police minister from office last year.

Parliamentary investigators are conducting a separate probe into accusations that high-level police officials maintained corrupt ties with suspected crime leaders and allegedly accepted bribes in exchange for special treatment.

According to a statement from the National Prosecuting Authority’s anti-corruption division, the dozen officers were detained in connection with a fraudulent agreement for providing health and wellness services to law enforcement personnel. Authorities also arrested a 13th individual who served as a company executive.

The police officials appeared in court Wednesday along with Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who owns Medicare24, the business that received the disputed contract and who investigators suspect has connections to organized criminal activity.

Matlala is currently detained at a high-security facility facing separate attempted murder allegations.

Each of the arrested officers filed sworn statements requesting bail, and prosecutors told the Pretoria Magistrates Court they would not contest their release on bail.

Prosecutors revealed Wednesday that several of the arrested officials had served on the evaluation panel that reviewed and approved the contract, alleging they should have rejected the company’s proposal.