POLOKWANE – One suspect was arrested and a second suspect is still being tracked following a kidnapping of a businessman who is believed to be in his fifties, confirmed the police on Thursday 28 December 2017.
Police Spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe says the police received information about the alleged kidnapping of a a bussinessman in the Thohoyandou Policing area in progress. A sting joint operation, composed of the Provincial Tracking Team ,the Crime Intelligence and the Provincial Detectives, was activated and the team responded swiftly after the suspects demanded a ransom from the family of the kidnapped victim.
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Ngoepe explained that the family were ordered to drop off the ransom money, a few million rand, at a particular point in Polokwane.
“At around 01:00 this morning, when the transaction started, the police officers approached the suspects and ordered them to surrender. The suspects fled the scene in a vehicle whereby the police gave chase and shootout ensued until the driver of the suspect’s vehicle lost control of the vehicle and crashed around 43km outside Polokwane along the R81/ Polokwane and Mooketsi road.”
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One suspect was injured during the incident and was arrested the second suspect managed to escape and disappeared into the nearby bushes. The kidnapped victim was rescued and the ransom money, and undisclosed amount of cash, was recovered, he confirmed.
The arrested suspect will appear before the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on charges of armed robbery, kidnapping, impersonating traffic police officers and extortion.
The second suspect who is now identified, is still being traced.
Police investigations continue, concluded Ngoepe.
The Provincial Commissioner LT. General Nneke Ledwaba has commended the professional actions of these dedicated team members on how they reacted to this incident.
Criminals who in anyway to terrorise our communities, will be dealt with mercilessly and without compromise, promised Lewaba.
