A former police officer based in Bloemfontein who was arrested for posing as a member of the Hawks is set to reappear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (20/07).
The suspect, André Pierre Theron (52), faces charges of impersonating a police official and fraud.
Investigation is ongoing following his arrest in May. Theron was released on bail of R3 000. Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said findings revealed that Theron had resigned from the police in 1993. His arrest followed a complaint received on 11 May of a man pretending to be a brigadier at the Hawks demanding to search houses in Pellissier.
“During the arrest, police seized ten rifle firearms, as well as old police uniform,” said Singo.
“It is alleged he told the owner that the search related to drugs. The owner of the premises demanded the search warrant, which the bogus police officer failed to produce,” said Singo.
The suspect was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team, together with the K9 unit, all based in Bloemfontein.
Singo said further investigation revealed Theron had fraudulently joined the Trots Pellissier Neighbourhood Association, a community organisation, under pretence of being police officer. The firearms have been handed over to the police local recording criminal centre as part of investigation.
