A METRO police officer has been arrested in connection to the hijacking of a Umhlanga businessman in Seaview last Tuesday.
According to Dereck Vijiam, corporate communications officer for Bellair SAPS, Madhavan Govender was travelling on Umhlatuzana Road shortly after 4pm when he was directed to pull over by a man wearing a reflector jacket and a Metro police cap.
“There was a marked Metro police Quantum taxi that was parked at the scene and three men dressed in mufti stood next to the vehicle.
“He was questioned about his driver’s license which he handed to the alleged Metro policeman. The driver was told to step out of his vehicle by the alleged Metro policeman who told him his license was expired,” said Vijiam.
A surprised Govender jumped out of the car, confused as his licence was far from expiring and that is when tragedy struck.
“At this point the complainant approached the Metro officer who then allegedly assaulted the victim before forcing the victim into the car and entering the vehicle along with his three accomplices. The victim was then cable tied at gun-point and searched by the three men,” added Vijiam.
The man was then reportedly asked where he stayed to which he answered Durban North but was rudely told he was lying as they knew he lived in Umhlanga. The men then went on to tell Govender they knew what other vehicles he drove and threatened that should he give the men the incorrect bank pin, his family would be raped and he would be stabbed.
A thriller ride then began as the hijackers drove Govender to Chesterville where they withdrew a R1000 from his account before proceeding to Govender’s house.
“At no point did the victim tell the men where he lived but he was surprised when a short while later, he was outside his house. On seeing that there were too many people at Govender’s residence the men then demanded that he take them to his business premises where they once again tied him and a security guard up and ransacked the safe of R10600,” said Vijiam.
After hearing the vehicle leave, Govender alerted ADT who happened to already be on the scene. Police were contacted and the vehicle’s registration plates were circulated via radio control.
Through tracker the police tracked the vehicle in Cato Manor area, where the vehicle was recovered and one Metro police officer was arrested by the K9 unit.
