Three of the nine officers arrested for allegedly defrauding the police in an alleged vehicle scam involving police vehicle branding are also accused in the "blue lights" case.
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According to the police, the suspects have been connected to a tender manipulation case involving the branding of police vehicles.
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The National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) Investigating Directorate (ID) said the accused were linked to the awarding of a tender for reflective markings on police vehicles in which more than R56 million were paid to service providers who paid kickbacks to the very supply chain management officials responsible for awarding the tender in 2017.
During their first appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Friday, it was revealed three of accused were facing charges of fraud and corruption relating to the procurement of emergency lights for police vehicles involving potential prejudice to the police of R191 million, also known as the blue lights case, said ID spokesperson Sindisiwe Twala in a statement.
"The focus of the blue lights case, investigated by IPID members seconded to the directorate, is the capture of the supply chain management division within the police to line the pockets of senior police officials, including former acting national commissioner, Lieutenant-General [Khomotso] Phahlane, between 2016 and 2017," Twala added.
