South African police officer shreds 3.4 million Meticais: Thought it was “worthless”

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South African police officer shreds 3.4 million Meticais: Thought it was “worthless”

2:38 CAT | 15 Jan 2016

File / The warrant officer in charge of the SAP13 register shredded the Mozambican money thinking it had no value.

A police officer’s conduct in shredding 3.4 million Mozambican Metical (over R1.19 million at the current exchange rate) because he thought it was “worthless” will cost the South African police over R1.1 million.

Mpumalanga tavern owner Richard Phiri turned to the North Gauteng High Court for the return of his car, R100 000 and 3.4 million in Mozambican currency after the police in July 2014 arrested him and five other men for the alleged unlawful possession of a firearm, ammunition and stolen property and confiscated his property.

All charges were dropped against them in March last year, but the police have since refused to return his property. His attorney was informed the R100 000 had been deposited into a Suspense Account and could only be released by means of a court order, while a warrant officer in charge of the SAP13 register had shredded the Mozambican money thinking it had no value.

Judge Mmonoa Teffo ordered the police to immediately return Phiri’s car and the R100 000 and gave them until January 24 to pay back the 3.4 million Metical converted into rands.

Phiri said in court papers he had provided the police with proof he had borrowed the currency from a friend in Mozambique to buy a truck for his business. Because of the police’s actions, he now battled to run his business as he could not buy the truck.

Source: The Citizen