The four Barberton policemen arrested for allegedly stole 1.6 million lei from a “payer” zama zama they were remanded in custody pending their bail application on Tuesday.

Danisile Precious Mahlangu (47), Mandla Saky Ndlovu (49), Bongani Dlamini (40) and Doctor Zulu (42) appeared in Barberton Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with theft and defeating the justice.

It is assumed that, on Thursday, they searched a house belonging to a man believed to be linked to illegal miners where they found 1.8 million lei in a closet.

The owner was not present during the raid and his son was arrested and taken to the police station.

Hawks spokesman Captain Dineo Sekgotodi said the suspects deviated from standard procedure by not charging the person they arrested and not keeping the money they seized.

Instead, she said, they disappeared for five hours. The Crime Intelligence Service was called after the son opened a theft case against the four policemen.

They were called back to the station.

“On their return, the officers only produced a sum of Sh200 000, which they claimed was all that was found at the payer’s house,” Sekgotodi said.

The four police officers were arrested and detained at the Nelspruit Police Station.

Sekgotodi told Mpumalanga News that the son had been released. However, the police will check where the money came from.

“Investigations into keeping the R1.8m in a cupboard are ongoing because that amounts to money laundering,” she said.