Free State Provincial Organised Crime unit working together with Crime intelligence, Welkom Anti-Gang and Welkom Tactical Response Team, arrested eight suspects in the North West Province.
On Friday 19 April 2024 at about 09:00 the Multi-disciplinary team reacted to an intelligence led information on 8 wanted suspects who are believed to be involved in the kidnapping and extortion case committed on the R30 between Vierfontein and Bothaville back on 01 March 2023. This is after the victim and his friend were lured by the suspects posing as police officials, kidnapped and coerced to send electronically 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. The two vehicles, white Toyota Corrolla and a metalic brown coloured VW Polo, allegedly used in the commission of the crimes, were also seized.
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 North West provinces using the same modus operandi.
“I would like to commend the joint effort by the team in making sure that the victims of these ruthless criminal conducts find closure.” Said the Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Baile Motswenyane.
The suspects are to appear in the Viljoenskroon magistrate court on Monday 22 April 2023, for kidnapping and extortion. More charges may be added as investigations continue.
