A police sergeant from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape has been released on bail after a court appearance in the Mossel Bay Magistrate’s Court.
Sergeant Lauriane Botha appeared in court on charges of corruption, intimidation, and defeating the administration of justice.
Sergeant Botha serves as the spokesperson for the Great Brak River SAPS. She has been embroiled in a mammoth fraud matter relating to over 300 charges in the Specialised Crimes Court in George.
The Western Cape spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Eric Ntabazalila, said Botha was charged with and summoned to appear in court in the Great Brak River, facing 323 counts of fraud.
Her first court appearance was on October 28, 2025; however, she was absent from court due to illness. The matter was postponed to allow her to physically attend court and make representations to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
“The State alleges that shortly before her appearance in January 2026, she looked for and found the complainant in the fraud matter and attempted to persuade him to withdraw the charges against her,” Ntabazalila said.
The police sergeant then threatened the complainant.
“She promised the complainant items she would purchase and also threatened him with imprisonment. At the time of doing this, she was in a full police uniform and using a police vehicle,” Ntabazalila said.
Sergeant Botha took it even further.
“Before February 10, 2026, she [Sergeant Botha] sent the investigating officer in her case a text message saying that the complainant wished to withdraw charges against her, which prompted an investigation. The investigation led to her arrest and a first court appearance at the Mossel Bay Magistrate’s Court,” Ntabazalila said.
Sergeant Botha was granted R3,000 bail with conditions that include not contacting state witnesses.
The matter has been postponed until February 27, when this current matter will be joined with the fraud case.