Two South African Revenue Service (SARS) customs officials were denied bail and remanded in custody by the Kempton Park Magistrates Court this afternoon on charges of theft and possession of suspected stolen property.
The two appeared following their arrest yesterday for allegedly stealing cash from a passenger hand bag at the Johannesburg International Airport yesterday.
They allegedly stopped and searched a passenger from a Dubai flight, and while the passenger was looking away, one of the officers removed more than US$2600.00 from the luggage.
The passenger reported the incident to the team leader.
Members of the SARS internal corruption unit and the South African Police Services (SAPS) questioned the officer and after viewing footage from the Airport Company SA surveillance cameras, found the money hidden in the car boot of the other customs official.
The two were subsequently arrested and were not asked to plead today.
The arrests are yet another victory over corruption and a corroboration of SARS? unwavering commitment to the principles of utmost integrity, honesty and fairness in all its operations.
They appear again in court Thursday for a formal bail application.
For more information please contact Sechaba Nkosi at (012) 422 5046 or 082 465 2901.
ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRETORIA