JUBA-The South Sudan National Police Service on Monday arrested four rogue traffic police officers over the extortion of motorists along the streets of Juba.
The officers were apprehended on Monday in Juba following numerous complaints of extorting money from motorists and members of the public.
Samuel Buhori Loti, Deputy Chairperson of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly Committee on Security and Public Order, said numerous complaints from drivers and other concerned citizens prompted the police to conduct an operation.
“Of late, if you have seen the traffic, they are now wearing badges. It’s because we have realized that there are a lot of rogue traffic officers who are actually not traffic officers, who just borrow uniforms and get in the streets and harass our public, extort money from them,” Buhori said in a statement seen by Sudans Post on Tuesday.
According to Buhori, the Department of Traffic Police has come under intense scrutiny due to allegations of irregular behavior by some of its officers.
“The minister reported that they have already started arresting them. I think Monday they arrested four traffic officers who actually were fake ones,” he said.
For easier identification, he encouraged traffic cops to wear badges while on duty.
“This is another way that we want to make sure that at least we identify the right people that are dealing with our public. And of course, there are a lot of issues that we know have been affecting our people, but we are in touch with all the realities,” he said.
