By Augustine Ehikioya
The Police in South Africa has threatened to arrest anyone involve in opening false Police cases.
The trend is said to be having negative impact on the resources of the Police.
This was contained in a statement by Brigadier Selvy Mohlala of the South African Police Service, Office of the Provincial Commissioner Mpumalanga, obtained by the Security Watch Africa.
It said “The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has sent a stern warning to members of the public not to open false cases as such deeds can land them behind bars.
“The warning comes after the arrest of a 33 year-old man on Monday, 04 October, 2021 on allegations of deliberately fabricating a case of hijacking on 23 September, 2021.
“According to Police report, the suspect is said to have opened a car-jacking case. He then informed Police that on the said day his vehicle, a Toyota Hilux bakkie, had been hijacked at around 1145hrs in Ermelo.
“Police at Ermelo assembled their resources with an anticipation to bring those responsible to book however in the tour of their investigation they discovered inconsistencies in some of the information that he initially gave on his statement, which did not tally with the one he gave them when they interviewed him.
“The investigation team realised that after all there was reportedly no incident of hijacking that took place on that day.
“Police at Ermelo then explained to him about this discrepancy and that his actions amount to a criminal offence hence his arrest and a charge of perjury laid against him,” it added.
While the investigation is still on, the statement said that the suspect is expected to appear before the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court soon.
The Provincial Commissioner also informed the community that opening false cases have a “negative impact in the fight against crime where resources and manpower that were supposed to have been directed in areas where they were needed most would then be misdirected and wasted.”