Ermelo extortion case: 5 expected in court after hostage situation
Two businessmen were forced to pay over R85 000 in 'protection fees', leading to the arrest of five suspects in an extortion case.
Five suspects are set to appear in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court today to face extortion charges. They were arrested on Tuesday.
According to local police spokesperson Captain Magonseni Nkosi, the suspects extorted nearly R100 000 from two businessmen in Ermelo’s mining industry over a period of five months.
One victim paid more than R30 000 between July and August to be allowed to operate his business. The second was forced to pay over R55 000 in protection fees from May to September.
“The victims decided to report them to the police, as they could no longer afford the money or to keep getting threatened,” Nkosi says.
Police launched an investigation and instructed the victims to arrange a meeting with the suspects in Breyten on Tuesday.
“During this meeting, the victims were held hostage, but the police officers already knew their location. Four of the suspects were arrested on the spot. The investigation led to the mine where the fifth suspect was also arrested,” Nkosi adds.
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