The Ficksburg Magistrate’s Court has convicted 43-year-old Mubien Anwary on a charge of bribery following an incident involving members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in July 2024.
Court proceedings confirmed that on 25 July 2024, two Sergeants from the Ficksburg SAPS Crime Prevention unit acted on a tip-off regarding a truck transporting illicit cigarettes. The officers traced the vehicle to a house in Ficksburg, where they discovered a consignment of cigarettes valued at R1.2 million.
While the officers were processing the crime scene, Anwary arrived at the location driving a black BMW. He summoned the two Sergeants to his vehicle and proposed a bribe of R15,000 in exchange for the release of the truck and its cargo.
The officers declined the offer and immediately reported the incident to the Serious Corruption Investigation unit of the Hawks. Anwary was arrested at the scene. Following the arrest, the consignment of illicit cigarettes was handed over to customs officials.