MILITARY OFFICER AWOL TO WORK AS PRISON OFFICIAL
A defence force lance corporal has been arrested for being absent without leave after he had started working for the Correctional Services department as an assistant director.
News 24 reported that Mukondeleli Eric Sieda, 33, a magazine clerk in the munitions depot in Centurion, was arrested on Thursday.
He was nabbed where worked in office of the correctional services' regional commissioner for North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga in Pretoria.
His new post was equal in rank to a lieutenant-colonel in the military.
In January, Sieda was arrested for allegedly being involved in a car theft syndicate. The gang allegedly stole vehicle parts worth R5.4m from the SA National Defence Force.
He was released on bail.
The SANDF retained Sieda because the criminal case against him had not been concluded, which is in line with defence force regulations.
However, he went absent without leave on February 1 and took up his new job.
Sieda may now have to forfeit his bail in the theft case.
Correctional Services spokesperson Vusi Shabalala said prison authorities was not aware of the theft charges against Sieda.
Sieda's appointment to his post was finalised in September. He complied with all requirements for the top position, said Shabalala.
Regional commissioner Watson Tshvhase suspended Sieda immediately until his case had been concluded.
Sieda's defence force salary will probably also be discontinued because of his unauthorised absence.
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11 Février 2005 à 10:18 dans
- zsandf (anglais)
