A 33-year old detective constable from Kempton Park Police Station was arrested at the station on Friday morning for kidnapping and armed robbery.
It is alleged that on Monday, August 22, a Senegalese man arrived at OR Tambo International Airport from Pretoria. He was on his way to Hong Kong to buy stock for his shop.
Upon his arrival at the airport he went to check in for his flight to Hong Kong. He then proceeded to exchange his South African currency into US Dollars. He left some which was not converted into dollars.
At about 3pm, while the victim was on his way to the check-in point, he was intersected by men. One of them identified himself as a police officer stationed at Crime Intelligence, Kempton Park. The officer informed him that he suspected that he was carrying drugs and wanted to search him at the police station in Kempton Park.
They went to a vehicle parked outside the airport, a white Toyota Etios. There were two occupants in the vehicle. The three joined them in the vehicle.
They left OR Tambo International Airport, driving on the R21 to an open veld in Pomona where they robbed him of all his belongings, which included the 35 000 US dollars, R11 000, luggage containing clothes, passport, cell phone and Ipad and left him there.
Fortunately, a passerby noticed the victim and assisted him to the Airport Police Station were a case was opened. The police were informed and a speedy investigation was pursued by the detective task team. During the investigation, the suspect was identified through CCTV footage and wad swiftly arrested.
The suspect will appear in court on Monday.
An investigation is still underway to try and locate the other suspects.
Anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the remaining suspects should contact Captain Kwena Sefaamela at 082 770 5474.
