FORMER POLICEWOMAN AND ACCOMPLICE SENTENCED FOR CORRUPTION AND EXTORTION

Photo: Bontle Mpolokeng Monnenyane

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By: Neo Ntsele

On Tuesday 03, the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court sentenced a former police Constable, Bontle Mpolokeng Monnenyane 41, and civilian Refilwe Tumelo Koetle 33, for corruption, extortion, kidnapping, and assault.

The sentencing of the duo emanates from their arrest on 15 December 2017 after the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation in Bloemfontein reacted to a complaint about corruption and extortion.

The complainant told the police that her brother was taken by Monnenyane and her brother’s ex-girlfriend, Koetle who said he was under arrest for possession of a stolen vehicle.

The duo visited the victim’s mother and told her that her son (the victim) was arrested and Koetle’s father had paid R10 000 bail for his release which needed to be reimbursed.

The detectives swiftly set up an undercover operation which led them to the victim's workplace where it was confirmed that the accused took the victim's bank card demanding to withdraw R10 000 since it was his pay day.

Upon realising that the employer had not yet deposited the salary, they arranged to come back later.

Photo: Refilwe Tumelo Koetle

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The duo was arrested and charged with corruption, extortion, kidnapping and assault.

The matter was postponed on numerous occasions until on 11 November 2024 when they were both found guilty.

On Tuesday 3, Monnenyane was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for corruption, three years for kidnapping, three years for extortion, and six months for assault.

The sentences are to run concurrently resulting in an effective 12 years imprisonment.

Koetle was sentenced to eight years imprisonment for corruption and two years imprisonment for extortion.

The sentences will run concurrently resulting in an effective eight years imprisonment.

Both Monnenyane and Koetle were declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Acting Free State Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Brigadier Sophie Hange welcomed the sentencing.

"No law enforcement official is above the law. The corrupt extortionists shall be removed," said Brigadier Sophie Hange .

Monnenyane was dismissed from the service in 2018.