THOHOYANDOU - In a move that will send a very strong warning to any corrupt police officer, the far north management has dismissed Detective Inspector Langutani Ben Mabasa (40) after he was found guilty of taking a bribe.

Police spokesperson Captain Ailwei Mushavhanamadi said Mabasa, who was attached to Waterval police station, left for Gauteng with his colleague on April 12 this year. They were on official duty to investigate a kidnapping case.

"The two officers arrived at the Quick Spar shop in Hammanskraal, where they made an appointment with Mr Moolman, the business owner, to meet at the parking area the following day so that he can give them a bribe," said Mushavhanamadi.

The two parties met at about 11:35, but the anti-corruption unit of the SAPS were tipped by Moolman and arrested the two officers immediately after they took a R1 000 bribe from Moolman. The money was found in the ashtray of their official car.

The case was decided last Saturday where only Mabunda was dismissed from the police service, while his colleague who turned state-witness remained suspended.

The case was first heard on April 15 in Pretoria and it is still continuing. Mushavhanamadi said the dismissal of Mabunda should send a strong message to other police officers so that they can understand that crime is a sin. "As police we are against corruption. We condemn this and that is the reason why we did not wait for the outcome of the court but proceeded with the departmental hearing," said Mushavhanamadi.