A Zimbabwean resident had a run-in with the long arm of the law, when he allegedly tried to bribe a traffic official.

Thompson Nucbe (25) was arrested on Sunday, July 25, when he tried to bribe a traffic official on the Elim road, just outside Louis Trichardt.

Nucbe was stopped by Officer Jan Zitha for a routine inspection. When Zitha requested his driver’s licence, Nucbe failed to produce it, upon which he offered Zitha R100 to let him go free.

Nucbe was arrested on the spot and had to spend the night in jail, after which he appeared in the Louis Trichardt magistrate’s court the following day and was charged with corruption.

During his trial, he tried to justify his actions by explaining that he did not have his licence with him and as a result tried to bride Zitha.

The State asked for maximum sentence, arguing that Nucbe’s offence was a daily offence which should be curbed.

Nucbe was sentenced to five months´ direct imprisonment.