The quick response and a well coordinated operation by members of the Trio Task Team, Mahwelereng Cluster Detectives, Crime Intelligence, the Drug Unit, Visible Policing and the Air Wing resulted in the arrest of three suspects and the discovery of a foreign national who is a businessman in the area who was kidnapped on Wednesday 7 February 2018, during a business robbery.
The businessman’s ordeal started when he was accosted by two suspects at Tauyatswala Village who pointed him with what looked like a firearm. He was delivering stock to the local shops in the area. The suspects robbed him of stock to the value of R60 000.00 and loaded all the stolen goods into his bakkie. The suspects then kidnapped the victim and later demanded ransom for his release.
A team comprising members derived from the above mentioned environments was assembled and earnestly started working on the case.
A breakthrough was made within days when the kidnapped victim was on Saturday 10 February 2018, located along the road linking Mokopane and Tinmyne. He was apparently released by the suspects after the apprehension of their accomplice. This success was achieved through a well planned and coordinated operation that resulted in the arrest of the first suspect aged 23.
The other two suspects, who initially managed to evade arrest, were nabbed on Sunday 11 February 2018, after one of them attempted to commit another robbery at ga-Mokaba. The community apprehended him and called the police. His further interrogation led to the arrest of a third suspect aged 39, the recovery of the robbed motor vehicle and a toy gun. The fourth suspect is still on the run but is known to the police.
The goods that were robbed were recovered on Saturday night together with the canopy of the vehicle that was robbed. The vehicle and a toy gun were recovered on Sunday.
The Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has commended all the members involved for the speed with which they managed to crack this case. He urged them to continue tracking down the remaining suspect.
The arrested suspects will appear soon in Mahwelereng Magistrate’s court on charges of Business Robbery, Kidnaping and Attempted Armed Robbery.
Anyone with information is requested to contact Lieutenant Colonel Sekotlong at 082 565 8426 or contact the nearest police or call the Crime Stop number 08600 10111.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
