3 suspects busted in Pretoria for kidnapping and extortion

Hawks spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha said the man was reportedly being held against his own will while “his banking accounts were being emptied at ATMs at nearby filling stations”, Rekord reports.

Ramovha said the arrests of the three suspects (aged 34, 36 and 37) were as a result of an intelligence-driven operation by the Hawks’ tactical operations management section in collaboration with Tshwane metro police and K9-unit as well as Tracker Connect.

“They [authorities] took up their strategic positions and identified a suspicious Hyundai i20 hatchback entering a local petrol station with two occupants.

“Two suspects then exited the vehicle, went to the automatic teller machine where they withdrew money in several transactions and drove off,” said Ramovha.

He said the vehicle was then followed and officers managed to bring the suspects in the vehicle to a halt.

“They apprehended the two suspects who were found in possession of the victim’s bank card and other valuables.”

He said the suspects then gave details of an address where the victim was being held, hostage.

“The identified premises were accessed where one more suspect was apprehended from the premises. The shocked but unharmed victim was rescued and his vehicle was also recovered from the scene.”

Ramovha said the vehicle that was used in the commission of the crime had also been seized as well as cash, cell phones and the victim’s bank cards for further investigation.

All three suspects were expected to appear in the Pretoria magistrate’s court soon on charges of kidnapping, extortion and possession of stolen property.