A suspect has been arrested in connection with the alleged unlawful seizure and theft of precious stones worth nearly R15 million from a home in Killarney, Johannesburg, in 2023.
The suspect was arrested on Saturday evening and is expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Monday.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the investigation initially identified six suspects, including three Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officers, a Gauteng Traffic Police officer, a Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officer, and a businessman who allegedly posed as a police officer during the operation.
Police allege the group carried out an unlawful raid at the Killarney residence without a search warrant and illegally seized the precious stones. The suspects are facing corruption charges linked to the operation.
Investigators say the case centres on serious breaches of police procedure. The EMPD officers allegedly conducted the raid outside their jurisdiction, failed to officially register the seized precious stones as exhibits with SAPS, and some of the stones were later allegedly found in the possession of one of the officers.
The case also emerged during proceedings before the Madlanga Commission, where Witness K implicated suspended EMPD chief Julius Mkhwanazi in the alleged theft. The witness claimed Mkhwanazi played a role in the incident.
Police confirmed that three arrest warrants have been issued. One suspect has now been arrested, while two others are expected to be apprehended in the coming weeks. A sixth suspect identified during the investigation has since died.
The investigation remains ongoing.