IPID has arrested an Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officer over the alleged unlawful seizure and theft of precious stones in Johannesburg in 2023.IPID initially secured three warrants of arrest, but by Saturday afternoon, only one suspect had been arrested.The investigation initially implicated six suspects: three EMPD officers, a Gauteng traffic police officer, a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department officer, and a businessman. An Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officer has been arrested in connection with the alleged unlawful seizure and theft of precious stones worth
just under R15 million during a raid on a private home in Killarney, Johannesburg, in 2023. The arrest, confirmed by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on Saturday, follows explosive testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry by protected witness “Witness K”, who detailed the alleged raid and theft. IPID said it had obtained three warrants of arrest on Friday, but by 13:00 on Saturday, only one suspect had been arrested, after investigators, assisted by the Tactical Response Team (TRT), failed to locate the other
two. “The arrest of the other two remaining suspects will be in the coming weeks,” IPID’s spokesperson, Lizzy Suping, said, adding that a suspect linked to the case had since died. According to Suping, the investigation initially implicated six suspects: three EMPD officers, a Gauteng traffic police officer, a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer attached to the VIP Unit, and a private businessman who allegedly impersonated a police officer during the raid. The suspects allegedly searched and raided a home in Killarney without a
warrant before seizing precious stones valued at just under R15 million. IPID said the suspects faced corruption charges after the EMPD officers allegedly conducted an investigation outside their jurisdiction and failed to register the seized stones in a police occurrence book. Some of the exhibits were allegedly later found in an EMPD officer’s vehicle. The watchdog noted that neither Gauteng traffic police nor JMPD VIP Unit officers have investigative powers, raising further questions about their alleged involvement. Suping said the suspect arrested on Friday evening
was detained at the Edenvale police holding cells until his first court appearance on Monday. IPID added that further updates on the case would be provided later on Saturday.
IPID, EMPD, Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department, Madlanga Commission, precious stones, Killarney, Johannesburg, Edenvale police holding cells, Tactical Response Team, Lizzy Suping