39-year-old Abigail Nakedi was arrested, by the Hawks, after she allegedly tried to bribe a court official for the early release of an inmate at the Goodemoed Correctional Facility in the province. Hawks spokesperson in the province, Lynda Steyn, told OFM News that investigations are still ongoing and authorities are still trying to establish the connection between the suspect and the inmate who is currently serving a twelve-year sentence for a cash-in-transit crime committed in 2014. Nakedi faces a number of charges and there may also be additional arrests.

Nakedi faces charges of corruption, fraud and defeating the ends of justice after she allegedly tried to bribe a court official to sign an early-release form so that the said inmate would be released before his time. The court official informed the Hawks of her intentions and she was then arrested after she allegedly paid over the money to the official. The Hawks said that they are using the cellphones and laptops that were confiscated, following her arrest, to aid their investigation. They also expect to make more arrests and said that more charges may be added to Nakedi’s case.

Nakedi remains in the employ of the Free State Provincial Government, as the Deputy Director for Community Development, at the Provincial Intervention unit.

OFM News