A Musina-based police inspector attached to the Dog Unit was arrested on Friday for allegedly stealing more than 500 cartons of Zimbabwean cigarettes worth R 10 000, seized from some women near Venetia Mine.

Police spokesman for Vhembe district Inspector Thivhulawi Tshilate said the suspect, whom he identified as Insp Jac Weideman, was arrested at around 19:00, after a follow-up report by the women.

"It is alleged he arrested a group of women he had found loading 750 cartons Zimbabwean cigarettes from one car to another. The suspect then seized the cigarettes and later released the owners without opening a docket," Tshilate said.

However, the owners of the cigarettes then went to the South African Revenue Services offices to enquire about their cigarettes. It then came to light that the suspect had handed SARS only 244 cartons. SARS officers then alerted the police, leading to Weideman’s arrest.

Weideman appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing theft and corruption charges. The case was postponed to December 1 and Weideman was released on R1 000 bail.