NOORDWESTER – HARTBEESFONTEIN - Ina van der Westhuizen (43) appeared in the Hartbeesfontein Periodical Court on Tuesday, 9 April for theft and defeating the ends of justice.
She was granted bail of R2000 and is expected to reappear before the court on Tuesday, 28 May.
Van der Westhuizen, who is a Sergeant stationed at Hartbeesfontein, was arrested on Tuesday, 9 April for alleged theft of a murder case docket, in which her close friend was charged.
The accused allegedly called a former reservist to the police station on Thursday, 4 April. The former reservist was taken to detectives’ offices upon arrival, where he was requested to take a bag, leave the place and not to open it until the accused collected it. However, the former reservist decided to open the bag and discovered that there was a murder docket inside. He became suspicious and blew the whistle on Friday, 5 April by disclosing the incident to the detective commander.
The matter was reported to the Provincial Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit (ACIU) for investigation and the accused was arrested.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena commended the ACIU and Hartbeesfontein police for their rapid responses that led to the arrest of the accused. He reiterated that the Service does not have space for crooked employees and that departmental investigations will also be instituted against the accused. He also thanked the whistle-blower for informing the police about the incident.
