Cato Manor cops head to high court

29 October 2012 - 16:11 By Sapa
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Cato Manor Organised Crime Unit head Major-General Johan Booysen and Hawks officer Captain Eugene van Tonder under arrest. File photo.
Cato Manor Organised Crime Unit head Major-General Johan Booysen and Hawks officer Captain Eugene van Tonder under arrest. File photo.
Image: TEBOGO LETSIE

Former members of the disbanded Durban Organised Crime unit will learn in February when they will stand trial, the Durban Regional Magistrate's Court heard on Monday.

The 30, including the head of the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal, Major General Johan Booysen, are accused of more than 70 crimes, including the murders of 28 people, some of them suspected criminals.

The unit allegedly operated as an enterprise under Booysen's command.

It allegedly obtained financial benefits from associations, businesses and individuals in conflict with the people the officers allegedly killed.

The policemen were arrested during August and June and served with suspension notices at the end of August, pending disciplinary procedures.

The court was told the men would have to appear in the Durban High Court on February 5, when it would be determined when they would stand trial.

The men were ordered to surrender their passports as well as the pin codes to their police cellphones to investigators.

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