A former police officer who says he has been forever shamed by his wrongful arrest for armed robbery, allegedly for stealing, at gunpoint, two rhino horns during a police “sting operation”, has been awarded almost R800,000 in damages.

Christopher Gumbi was a warrant officer at the time of his arrest in January 2015.

He appeared in court more than 19 times and was eventually discharged at the end of the state’s case, the court ruling that he did not have to put up a defence because there was insufficient evidence against him...