A 25-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and financial exploitation of a male victim in Tsolo, following Hawks intervention. The incident took place on the 3rd of November 2023, when the victim, who had just received a R300,000 pay-out from the Road Accident Fund (RAF), was approached by two men posing as doctors.
The suspects allegedly claimed to be working in partnership with the RAF and offered the victim medical assistance. He was then taken to Klerksdorp, North West travelling for more than 800 km, where he was held against his will. During his captivity, large sums of money were reportedly withdrawn from his bank account and transferred to accounts connected to the suspects. The victim was later found and safely returned to his family.
Acting on intelligence, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s Kidnapping Task Team in the Eastern Cape, in cooperation with their colleagues in the North West, tracked down and arrested one of the suspects in Klerksdorp. He is being transported back to the Eastern Cape and is scheduled to appear in the Tsolo Magistrate’s Court on the 26th of May 2025.
Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, the Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Eastern Cape, praised the team’s efforts and highlighted the success of the joint operation. He confirmed that more arrests are expected as investigations continue.
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