A policeman who demanded a bribe of R5 000 from a suspect was sentenced to 12-years imprisonment for corruption by the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court. Warrant Officer Claude Ince (51) who was stationed at the Durban's Bellair police station was sentenced after he was found guilty on two counts of corruption. 

Hawks KZN spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo said that Ince was working as a detective when he was arrested. "In May 2017, warrant officer Ince was investigating a case of fraud when he demanded a gratification of R5 000 in order to destroy evidence against the accused. A case of fraud was opened," Mhlongo said. He said an undercover operation was then conducted and Ince was found in possession of cash that was paid to him by the complainant and arrested. He was charged for corruption and appeared in court," he said.

Mhlongo said that in a separate incident, Ince was investigating a case of shoplifting against another accused. "In the process, Ince demanded a bribe R3 000 in order to withdraw the charges against the accused. The accused managed to pay a gratification of R1 000 and did not attend court as per his instruction. A warrant of arrest was issued against her and when she appeared before court, she told the court that Ince took money from her and told her to not come to court," said Mhlongo.

Mhlongo further said that a sitting magistrate instructed that the matter should be investigated and another case of corruption was registered against him and he was charged. Ince was found guilty on both cases in May last year. On Monday, the court sentenced him to 10 years direct imprisonment for count one and another 10 years direct imprisonment for count two. "The court ordered that eight years of count two will run concurrently with the first 10 years of count one, which means that Warrant Officer Ince will serve 12 years direct imprisonment. He was granted leave to appeal and immediately incarcerated. His appeal will be heard on 11 April 2024," he said.