Ezeokwuosa Benjamin (42) was found guilty and sentenced by the Volksrust Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 30 August 2023 for corruption.

The conviction followed after the accused together with his accomplice were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team based in Secunda on 08 May 2022 for corruption.

It is alleged that on the day in question members of the Hawks were attending court at Volksrust for a bail application for dealing in drugs. An investigator reportedly received a phone call regarding an unknown Nigerian male who wanted to meet him to negotiate the release of his brother who was appearing in court for dealing in drugs. The brother was apparently arrested on the 09 December 2021 and has been in custody since.

The investigating officer requested to meet with him personally outside the court. During the process he requested for verbal authority to conduct an undercover operation and authority was granted. Sting operation was then put in place. While he was walking towards the state vehicle he was approached by Mr Nwaebiem Uchena Uzuegbnam who requested assistance for his brother to be released and was promised gratification of R5000-00 if his brother gets bail.

They went to another Nigerian guy who also got inside the car. While they were there they told the officer that they both accumulated R5000-00 and they handed gratification to him for the release of the brother and further promised to pay additional amount to make the case disappear. The pair was consequently arrested and charged for corruption.

The accused appeared in court on several occasions. Accused number 2, Ezeokwuosa Benjamin was granted R5000-00 bail while Nwaebiem Uchenna Uzuegbnam(44) was remanded in custody.

Nwaebiem Uchenna Uzuegbnam pleaded guilty and sentenced by the Volksrust Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 30 August 2023 as follows: Sentenced to 10 (ten) year direct imprisonment.

The case against Ezeokwuosa Benjamin was postponed to Thursday, 07 September 2023 for separation of trial arrangements.

Source: South African Police Service