Ten policemen arrested last year on charges of fraud, extortion and corruption have pleaded not guilty.

The officers appeared in the Bellville Regional Court on Tuesday.

Proceedings were postponed to Wednesday as court interpreters for Northern Sotho, Afrikaans and isiXhosa were not immediately available.

Four were off sick, prosecutor Tertia du Toit said.

The accused – Percy Claassen, Randall Phillips, Nicolaas Ryk, Muneer Daniels, Alviro Carolisen, Divan Webster, Dudley Abrahams, Casbeth Tsiri, Thembalethu Mazimela and Samkelo Mnyanda – were arrested in November 2014 by the police’s anti-corruption unit.

The State alleges that in the course of 2012 and 2013, the officers demanded payment of “fines” for drug possession from suspects or they would be arrested.

It is believed that these bribes were between R300 and R1 500.

The officers were all based at the Parow police station and were currently out on bail. News24