TWO suspects who were driving a vehicle fitted with blue light, were arrested for impersonating the Joburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers.
During questioning, the suspects revealed that a JMPD member borrowed them the vehicle.
A criminal case has been opened against the duo and an internal investigation has also been initiated by the JMPD Internal Affairs Unit to verify the suspects’ allegations that they were given the vehicle by a JMPD employee.
The male suspects, aged 26 and 32, were found in possession of a suspected stolen JMPD motor vehicle in Jabulani, Soweto, on Saturday afternoon, 19 November.
They were arrested by cops who were conducting crime prevention patrols along Koma Road in Jabulani.
JMPD spokesman Xolani Fihla told Daily Sun that police officers noticed a white BMW X3 driving recklessly with flashing blue lights.
The cops conducted an inquiry using the registration number of the vehicle.
“The results revealed that the vehicle belonged to Idrive Car Rental. The officers became suspicious as to why a rental vehicle was fitted with blue lights. They immediately stopped the vehicle and the two male occupants were asked for identification as the passenger was allegedly wearing a JMPD director’s combat cap. Both occupants did not have any appointment cards to identify themselves as police officers,” said Fihla.
He said the cops conducted a further inquiry which revealed that the vehicle is a JMPD vehicle used at the JMPD headquarters.
“While searching the vehicle and the occupants, it was discovered that they were drinking alcohol in the vehicle and the driver did not have a driving licence in his possession. The suspect who was driving the vehicle was taken to the Dube Vocational Alcohol Evidence Centre where he was breathalysed and was found to have had alcohol, but was under the legal limit,” he added.
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Fihla said the suspects alleged that they were given the vehicle by a JMPD employee.
But a case of theft of a motor vehicle was opened and registered at Protea Glen Police Station by the alleged JMPD officer who is said to have borrowed the suspects the car.
Fihla couldn’t confirm if the JMPD officer opened the case before or after the suspects were arrested.
The arrested suspects were detained at Jabulani cop shop.
They were charged with possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle and impersonating police officers.
