Former W. Cape police sentenced to six years for fraud and corruption

The Plettenberg Bay Regional Court in the Western Cape has sentenced a former police officer to six years’ imprisonment for corruption, fraud, forgery and defeating the ends of justice.

Ralston Petersen, who served in the South African Police Service (SAPS) for 16 years, was convicted on eight counts after pleading guilty in October last year.

At the time, he was working as a court orderly.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Provincial Spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, says during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Petersen approached a motorist who had been fined for breaching regulations on the N2 near Sedgefield, offering to make the fine disappear in exchange for cash.

Ntabazalila says Petersen later accepted R800, forged documents and misled a prosecutor while keeping the money for himself.