By Staff Reporter
NAMAKGALE-Two Bangladeshi nationals were arrested for allegedly trying to bribe a Community Activist to persuade the parents of a 10-year-old child who was raped, to drop the charges in Phalaborwa on Friday afternoon June 03.
The two suspects aged 30 and 40, reportedly tried to bribe the local community activist, Edmund Mbetse in Namakgale to influence the parents of a 10-year-old child who was allegedly raped by their fellow Bangladeshi friend, Hossain Akter, to drop the charges.
The 10-year-old child went to the suspect’s shop in Namakgale on Sunday 08 May 2022 at about 11:00 to buy an airtime voucher. Instead of serving her, the suspect locked the door and raped the child inside. He thereafter let her go. The matter was reported to the police and he was arrested on the same day at his shop. The case against the accused was postponed to 20 June 2022 for further police investigations.
The suspects allegedly offered to pay the activist an amount of money to make use of his influence to convince the parents to withdraw the charges against their fellow countrymen. After paying a portion of the money, members of the Provincial Anti-Corruption unit immediately pounced on the two suspects and arrested them.
Lieutenant General Hadebe has urged community members to continue reporting crimes to the police, especially crimes perpetrated against women and children.
The suspects will appear in Phalaborwa magistrate court on Monday 06 June 2022.
