Fake police officers kidnap, assault and rob Middelburg businessman
A Mpumalanga businessman was forced by his kidnappers to contact his wife to ask her to transfer funds.
A Middelburg businessman was kidnapped, assaulted and robbed by suspects posing as police officers yesterday morning (May 25).
Middelburg Observer reports that, according to information received from security teams and sources on the scene, the incident happened shortly after 09:00 at business premises in Slegtkamp Street.
The kidnappers, reportedly wearing partial police uniforms, forced the man into the boot of a white VW Polo with no registration plates before fleeing with his charcoal BMW 3 Series.
Victim forced to transfer money
The victim was assaulted and forced to contact his wife to transfer approximately R40 000 through an EFT transfer.
The kidnappers later used his keys to gain access to his home, where the property was ransacked and items were stolen.
A large-scale search operation involving SAPS, Aiguille Security, Mortelmans Security Services and N17 Emergency Response was launched as the suspects fled towards Ogies and Phola outside Middelburg.
The man’s BMW was later found abandoned on a dirt road behind Black Wattle mine. Responding teams later located the injured businessman in the Phola area. The kidnappers fled on foot moments before authorities arrived.
Stolen vehicle recovered
Authorities found the white VW Polo on the scene, with a dummy firearm and an official police cap.
It was determined that the Polo had previously been flagged as stolen.
The man received medical treatment at the scene before being taken to a local clinic. He was later transferred to Life Midmed Hospital for further treatment.
Police and forensic teams later processed the victim’s home as part of the investigation.
The motive for the kidnapping remains under investigation, and no arrests had been made at the time of publication.
Police have not yet released an official statement.
Recent kidnapping
The incident follows the murder of another businessperson whose body was found in the boot of a silver Audi on a farm about 25km outside Middelburg along the Hendrina road (N11).
Middelburg Observer previously reported that, in that incident, Muhammad Nasir was abducted from his house in Eastdene after reportedly returning from a mosque.
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