The actions of a police officer who allegedly stole R900 from a man killed in an accident is shameful and an embarrassment to officers, North West premier Thandi Modise said on Wednesday.
"While theft of goods from accident scenes by heartless motorists and bystanders is deplorable, it’s shocking that a police officer is alleged to have committed this despicable crime which we wish to condemn in the strongest terms possible," she said in a statement.
"Such conduct undermines the constitutional duty of the police to protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property and if not dealt with harshly and uprooted might erode public confidence in our police."
Warrant Officer Christopher Ross was on the scene of an accident near Bodibe where a man died after losing control of his car on Thursday, Colonel Emelda Setlhako said in a statement on Tuesday.
He allegedly took several items, including R900 in cash, from the victim.
Ross apparently gave the victim's brother the items, and told his family he had taken R500 which he would only return after they produced the identity documents of the dead man and his brother at the local police station.
The family subsequently came to the station with the documents. However Ross was off duty and another officer, Captain Ida Dube, dealt with them.
Dube noticed that Ross had allegedly not recorded the case or noted the money in the police's possession.
The captain went to Ross's home and asked him about the money. He allegedly denied knowing anything about it.
Another police officer who had been on duty with Ross allegedly confirmed that paramedics gave Ross the R900 at the scene.
A case of theft was opened against Ross. He was arrested on Friday and appeared in the Itsoseng Magistrate's Court on Monday.
He is due back in court on January 16.
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