Two former cops arrested for allegedly kidnapping

Two former cops arrested for allegedly kidnapping

Eight suspects, among them two former police officers from the Free State, are set to appear in the Viljoenskroon Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing charges of kidnapping and extortion.

The arrests were made possible through the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement units, including the Provincial Organised Crime Unit, Crime Intelligence, Welkom Anti-Gang Unit (AGU), and Welkom Tactical Response Team. According to Provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli, the arrests stemmed from an intelligence-led operation targeting eight wanted individuals believed to be connected to a kidnapping and extortion incident on the R30 between Vierfontein and Bothaville on March 1, 2023.

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During the operation, the suspects, aged between 33 and 53, including two former police officials aged 38 and 45, were apprehended as they were about to enter the Wolmaranstad court. Additionally, law enforcement seized two vehicles allegedly used in the commission of the crimes, a white Toyota Corolla, and a metallic brown VW Polo.

The victims were reportedly deceived by the suspects posing as police officials, leading to their kidnapping and coerced payment of approximately R200,000 to various bank accounts as instructed by the suspects. The suspects’ modus operandi included threatening the victims with arrest and violence to compel cooperation.

Free State Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane commended the collaborative effort of the law enforcement team, emphasizing the importance of bringing closure to victims of such criminal acts.

“The multi-disciplinary team acted on intelligence-led information on eight wanted suspects, who are believed to be involved in the kidnapping and extortion case, committed on the R30 between Vierfontein and Bothaville on March 1, 2023.

“This is after the victim and his friend were lured by the suspects posing as police officials, kidnapped, and coerced to electronically send about R200,000 to different bank accounts at the instruction of the suspects.

“The suspects aged between 33 and 53 years old, including two former police officials aged 38 and 45, were swiftly arrested by the team, while they were about to enter the Wolmaranstad court,” Kareli said.

“The victims were threatened with arrest, violence and forced to cooperate. The arrested suspects are believed to be one of the groups terrorising communities in the Free State and the North West provinces using the same modus operandi,” Kareli said.

“I would like to commend the joint effort by the team in making sure that the victims of these ruthless criminal conducts find closure,” Motswenyane said.