A companion of one of the officials stationed at the Kutama Sinthumule Prison in Louis Trichardt was also remanded into the custody.

Hawks spokesperson, Capt Matimba Maluleke said a procurement officer and an official at the human resources department at the prison were apprehended on Wednesday.

He said probes disclosed that the officials reportedly conspired with a supplier and unduly approved a tender for mattresses at the facility at huge prices in exchange for reported kickbacks.

Maluleke said the probe revealed that the procurement officer further transferred just over R130‚000 into the same accomplice’s bank account.

Hawka spokesperson attested that: “The suspects have been warned to appear at the Makhado Magistrate’s Court on the 20th of June 2019 to face charges related to fraud‚ corruption and money laundering”.

“In November last year‚ this [procurement officer] together with Edith Pengson‚ 56‚ were arrested by the same team‚ for allegedly overpricing services in return for gratification amounting to over R2.3m,” he added.

Maluleke said the officer and Pengson were anticipated to be back in court on June 28.