Five police members stationed at Mahwelereng police station have briefly appeared before Mokopane Magistrate court on Friday 21 June 2024 facing charges of kidnapping and extortion.
Constable Tebatso Sinkie Leso (30), Sergeant Risimati Vongani Mbhenyani (42), Sergeant Madimetja Phillimon Mokebe (52) Sergeant Mpho Jacob Makgamatha (42) and Constable Whitney Beckett aged 28 were remanded in police custody and their case was postponed to 01 July 2024 for bail application and further police investigations.
The suspects were apprehended following police investigations that were executed by the Limpopo Provincial Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Investigation Unit.
It is alleged that on Thursday 13 June 2024, a 21-year-old male complainant was driving a BMW 3 Series motor vehicle with five male Ethiopian nationals transporting them to Gauteng province, Marabastad Home Affairs to renew their asylums when he was blocked by a Grey Hyundai sedan with an unknown registration number at a filling station in Mokopane.
Apparently, a 21-year-old managed to escape, and he was followed by Mahwelereng SAPS Isuzu bakkie and VW Golf GTI with a female and two male occupants in uniform.
The five foreign nationals were allegedly taken from the 21-year-old ‘s motor vehicle and put inside the back of the police bakkie, and he was cautioned not to follow them. They drove back to Mokopane and handed them to an unknown male suspect.
The complainant later went to Mokopane and Mahwelereng SAPS to enquire but could not find them and a case was opened in Mahwelereng police station and transferred to Limpopo Provincial Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Investigation Unit for further investigations and that led to their apprehension.
Police investigations are continuing.
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