The EMPD has commended the breakthrough made by the Benoni SAPS, which led to the arrest of five suspects in connection with the kidnapping of Tahseen Mateen Kardame from outside his father’s warehouse in Benoni on November 12.
One of them is allegedly an EMPD member. Kardame was found in Katlehong on November 30.
EMPD spokesperson Lt-Col Kelebogile Thepa said the EMPD distances itself from the alleged misconduct of the member.
“Contemporaneous to the SAPS investigation, a full-scale departmental investigation has commenced with the identification of the member,” she said.
According to national SAPS spokesperson Brig Vish Naidoo, the EMPD member is one of five suspects who will be appearing in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court on December 2 on charges of kidnapping, extortion and the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
He explained that following investigations, the team initially arrested two suspects in Daveyton, including the EMPD employee, at 23:30 on November 29.
“The team continued with investigations which led them to Wattville, and at 09:00 on November 30 arrested a third suspect.”
A continued investigation led police to a house in Katlehong, where the victim was rescued and two more men were arrested, bringing to five the total number of suspects arrested thus far.
“National police commissioner Gen Khehla John Sitole has applauded the team led by head office Crime Intelligence on the rescue of the 28-year-old victim without any ransom being paid and the arrest of the five suspects,” Naidoo said.
“Suspects are all South Africans between 29 and 72 years, of which one is a well-known cash-in-transit robber out on bail.”
He added that the team also recovered at least 15 cellphones, three firearms, including a semi-automatic rifle, shotgun and pistol, as well as ammunition.
“We continue to appeal to anyone who has any information on the crime to contact SAPS Crime Stop on 086 00 10111. Information can also be communicated via the MySAPS app,” Naidoo said.
“All information will be treated with strictest confidence and callers may remain anonymous.”
Thepa concluded that the EMPD serves and protects with pride the community and residents of the metro.
“At no instance do we accommodate lawlessness, especially disguised in uniform. We call on the law to take its course in determining the nature and extent of the involvement of our member.
“A stern warning is given to officers involved in crime to recuse themselves from the profession of protecting and serving the community, as the long arm of the law will allocate and lady justice will prevail.
“The community is urged to report acts of crime to their nearest SAPS, the EMPD precinct stations or Ekurhuleni Anti-Fraud Hotline on 080 010 2201,” she said.
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