Bloemfontein - Four police constables have been arrested for crimes in the Free State, police said on Friday.
They were arrested on Monday for the separate crimes of attempted murder, driving under the influence of alcohol, corruption and theft, said Brigadier Billy Jones.
He said a 36-year-old constable allegedly assaulted his 40-year-old wife during an argument in Makwallo, Vredefort, at 3.30pm on Monday.
“According to information, he also instructed her to leave the house, on which she refused and he subsequently fired four shots at her with his service pistol, but she was not hit,” he said in a statement.
“The suspect was arrested and his official firearm and ammunition were booked into the evidence room.”
The policeman, who was stationed at the Boksburg police station, was charged with attempted murder.
At 11.30pm the same day, a 29-year-old constable stationed at the 10111 Centre in Heidedal was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.
Heidedal police were called to the scene of an accident near Heidedal police station, where the driver of a BMW had hit the back of a Nissan Lavina.
“The constable, who was the driver of the BMW, was then arrested for driving under the influence of liquor after a blood sample was taken.
He was off-duty at the time of the incident and was released on a warning, said Jones.
The police would decide whether to suspend him when the results of the blood test were known.
Jones said a third policeman, a 28-year-old constable stationed at Bultfontein, was arrested for corruption and theft after allegedly selling his official firearm to a Lesotho man in a tavern for R900.
Jones said the firearm had not been recovered, but the buyer had been arrested and charged with theft of a police firearm.
The constable was served with a notice of suspension on Thursday.
Jones said a 25-year-old constable was arrested in Philippolis for attempted murder.
“It is alleged that the suspect was on duty and was involved in an argument over a girlfriend with the victim in Poding-Tse-Rolo, Philippolis,” he said.
“The victim alleges that a shot was fired at him with the service pistol of the constable, which missed him.”
Newly-appointed provincial commissioner Lt-Gen Thabethe Mpembe said the arrests should serve as a warning to other police officials who were “custodians of the law”.
He said crime would not be tolerated.
Sapa