EASTERN CAPE – Rodney Two-boy Mpapela (61) former Hawks officer was given 6 years imprisonment of which 2 years was suspended for five years by the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes court on 3 November 2021 for charges of fraud.

On 28 February 2007, an application for trap money to the value of R4000-00 was made by the members of Mthatha Serious Commercial Crimes Investigation. The operation was conducted and the entire trap money was recovered from the target. It was registered at the local police station then later booked out by the investigating officers.

On 8 July 2011, Mpapela received the cash from the then Unit Commander who has since retired. The Captain requested the new commander to keep the cash in the safe. On 10 March 2016, the case relating to the cash in question was withdrawn by the State.

On 15 June 2018, the Unit Commander handed over the trap money to Mpapela to return it to the Finance office but it never reached the destination. The Captain was adamant that the cash in question was not with him.

Information in relation to his denied misconduct was received in 2020 by Serious Corruption Investigation for probing which led to his subsequent arrest on 28 June 2021. Mpapela appeared at Specialised Commercial Crime in Mthatha where he was released on R5000-00 bail.

Mpapela was convicted on 30 September 2021. After a postponement on 08 October 2021, the matter was remanded to 03 November 2021 hence his sentencing on the day.

The Specialised Commercial Crimes court handed down to Mpapela 6 years sentence of which 2 years is suspended for five years which means that he will be incarcerated for 4 years.

The Provincial Head, Major General Obed Ngwenya commended the Serious Corruption Investigation team of the Hawks based in East London for ensuring that one of their own is brought to book thus relaying the message that no one is above the Law.

Source: South African Police Service