COP ARRESTED FOR DRINKING SPREE IN GOVT CAR

MBABANE – A police officer stationed at the High Court has been arrested after he allegedly unlawfully took a government vehicle and went on a drinking spree with his colleagues and friends.

The police officer is alleged to have collaborated with three of his colleagues, as well as a civil servant, in allegedly driving a government vehicle without the necessary authority and went on a drinking spree.

The officer is alleged to have unlawfully taken the car belonging to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs on Saturday. 

Uniform 

According to an impeccable source, the officer of the law was in full uniform and had, in possession, his service rifle when he allegedly took the car for an outing with his friends. 

It is said the officer returned the car, which was by then damaged, the following day.

The white Chevrolet sedan was parked at the High Court premises yesterday. 

Noted was that two tyres had a puncture. The registration plates were also removed. 

 It is believed that the police officer removed the registration plates. 

Some keys of the vehicles used by Judiciary officers are kept at the guardhouse after the drivers knock off.  

Information gathered was to the effect that the initial driver of the motor vehicle was asked about its whereabouts after those who worked around the High Court premises noticed that it was missing. 

It is alleged that the driver rushed to the High Court to ascertain if what was being said was true. 

To his surprise, he confirmed that the vehicle was not at its usual parking spot, resulting in the driver reporting the matter to the police. 

However, while still at the High Court gate, the police officer alleged to have unlawfully taken the car, is alleged to have been seen driving inside the institution.

It was noted that the vehicle did not have its registration plates.  

The vehicle in question is currently used to transport a magistrate who resides in Mbabane, but is stationed in Nhlangano. 

After the car had been returned, police officers, who were called when the car was reported missing, found bottles of alcoholic beverages and a box of Joko and Five Roses tea bags inside the vehicle.  

It could not be ascertained how the tea bags got into the State vehicle, however, the discovery of the items in the car raised curiosity among those who saw them, on what the car was used for after being unlawfully taken. The source said the police officer, who was in the company of his friends, arrived driving the car while other officers were still wondering about its whereabouts. 

He is said to have simply apologised when questioned about where he had taken the car to. 

When sought for comment, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed a report of a police officer who is accused of driving the State car without authority.  

She said the officer of the law was deployed at the High Court when he allegedly committed the offence. 

Government vehicles are not driven from one place to another without a written authority, especially after working hours. 

Vilakati stated that the officer of the law has been arrested and charged with an offence and is expected to appear in court today. 

Abusing 

Worth noting is that the officer is accused of abusing the State vehicle at a time when government is hit hard by a fuel crisis. 

There was a version to the effect that the National Commissioner of Police, William Tsitsibala Dlamini, was made aware of the matter immediately.  

When called last night, Dlamini conformed having received a report concerning the incident. 

However, he stated that he had since assigned some senior officers to ascertain the authenticity of the matter. 

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