Limpopo Officer Escapes Jail Time After Court Wholly Suspends Sentence for Stealing From Police Station

• An ex-police officer was handed a 12-month prison sentence that was wholly suspended for five year
• The Polokwane Magistrate's Court convicted Nerissa Mokgadi Phonsthi for stealing R3 000 from a police station safe
• The former officer will stay out of prison on the condition that she doesn't commit a similar offence during the suspension period

POLOKWANE - A former police officer from Polokwane has managed to escape jail time even after she was convicted of theft.

The Polokwane Magistrate's Court wholly suspended the 12-month sentence handed down to 37-year-old Nerissa Mokgadi Phonsthi.

Limpopo police officer arrested after R3k goes missing from Polokwane police station

While Phontshi was a financial administration clerk for the South African Police Service (SAPS), R3 000 went missing from the safe at the Seshego police station where the officer was posted, IOL reported.

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Bank employee faces theft charges for refusing to return R150k accidentally sent to her, SA welcomes arrest

According to Hawks provincial spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke, a thorough investigation pointed the police to Phontshi, the only person with the safe keys at the time of the theft.

The former officer's case started in 2015. she was released on bail after her first court appearance. Her 12-month sentence was suspended for five years on the condition that she doesn't commit a similar crime during the suspension.

Limpopo police officers sentenced for robbing Polokwane shops

In another story, two police officers from Limpopo were slapped with eight-year sentences each for robbing several shops, TimesLIVE reported

The men went on a crime spree and targeted Indian-owned shops while wearing police uniforms.

Bank employee faces theft charges for refusing to return R150k accidentally sent to her, SA welcomes arrest

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In another story about theft, Briefly News reported that an Eastern Cape bank employee would not let a chance at easy money pass her by. Now the 28-year-old woman, Aaliya Govender, is facing the consequence of refusing to return R150 000 accidentally transferred into her account.

The Hawks' Serious Commercial Crimes Investigation based in Mthatha arrested Governder on Wednesday, 19 July, and charged her with theft, IOL reported.

Hawks Provincial Spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela said the incident happened on 21 June 2021 when another bank employee made the error.

Source: Briefly News