Staff Reporter.
A former Northern Cape SAPS officer has been found guilty of sharing confidential details of planned police operations with criminals.
The 42-year-old Sebastian Johnson was convicted of defeating the ends of justice in the Kimberley Regional Court.
Northern Cape Hawks spokesperson Captain Tebogo Thebe said Johnson was arrested in September 2021 after evidence fingered him as the mole who was working with criminals by tipping them off on upcoming operations.
Thebe said Johnson’s criminal activities were brought to the attention of the police in April 2021 after the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team conducted an operation to arrest members of a drugs syndicate.
“After the arrest, cellphone records of the syndicate members were downloaded for further investigation. The team discovered confidential pictures of the planned operation documents on the suspects’ cellphones, “said Thebe.
An enquiry was instituted to further investigate how the suspected criminals gained access to confidential operation documents. Thebe said the inquiry fingered Johnson as the culprit.
The case was postponed to 1 June 2023 for sentencing.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.