Three suspects aged between 33 and 34 will appear before Cathcart Magistrates’ court on 18 December 2023 on charges of extortion. The trio was arrested by the Kidnapping Task team of the Hawks and Magma Security Guards on 13 December 2023 for allegations of extortion.
It is alleged that on 12 December 2023, members of the East London Kidnapping Task Team received information about a Toyota Fortuner with Gauteng registration numbers driven by three unknown males who were allegedly terrorising and extorting money from the business owners in a form of protection fee around Ngcobo, Cofimvaba, Dodrecht and Queenstown.
The team acted on the information received, spotted and followed the vehicle until it was intercepted on 13 December 2023 in the Cathcart policing area after having collected money. The three suspects were arrested on the spot. The Toyota Fortuner, cash to the value of R1 040 and two cellphones were seized during the arrest for further investigation.
The suspects are to appear in court on 18 December 2023.
The Acting Provincial Head Brigadier Selina Motlalepula Maponya lauded the team for the success and once more urged the community to be vigilant during this festive season as the criminals are acting out of desperation.
