Shiven Arnold Loopoo (33), was convicted and sentenced by the Bethlehem Magistrates’ Court on 11 May 2026 for corruption.
The conviction follows an incident on 05 June 2025, when the accused visited the Bethlehem Serious Corruption Investigation Unit offices for an interview relating to the investigation of vehicles linked to fraudulent licence renewals. During the engagement, the accused allegedly offered money to the Investigating Officer in exchange for assistance in removing licensing blockages placed on the vehicles by the Road Traffic Management Corporation.
The Investigating Officer immediately reported the matter, and verbal authority in terms of Section 252A was obtained from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The accused later repeated the offer and was arrested by members of the investigation team.
The accused appeared before the Bethlehem Magistrates’ Court on 06 June 2025 and the matter was remanded on several occasions for trial. The court subsequently found the accused guilty of corruption following his plea and sentenced him to pay a fine of R12 000 or undergo five years imprisonment.