Three police members attached to the Mahwelereng Police Station briefly appeared in the Mokopane Magistrate’s Court yesterday, while two of their colleagues are expected in the same court today.

Constable Tebatso Sinkie Leso (30), Sergeant Risimati Vongani Mbhenyani (42) and Sergeant Madimetja Phillimon Mokebe (52) faced charges of kidnapping and extortion.

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says they were remanded in custody as their case was postponed to Friday for legal representation and further police investigations.

Two other suspects, a 28-year-old female constable and a 42-year-old male sergeant, handed themselves over to police yesterday. They will appear in court today.

The incident

Leso, Mbhenyani and Mokebe were apprehended at their respective residences on Sunday following police investigations that were executed by the Limpopo Provincial Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Investigation Unit.

“It is alleged that on June 13, a 21-year-old male complainant was travelling with five male Ethiopian nationals en route to the Marabastad Home Affairs in Gauteng to renew their asylum documents when he was blocked by a grey Hyundai sedan with an unknown registration number at a filling station in Mokopane. The complainant managed to escape and was followed by a Mahwelereng SAPS Isuzu bakkie and VW Golf GTI with a female and two male occupants in uniform,” says Ledwaba.

The five foreign nationals were removed from the car and put in the back of the police bakkie. The driver was then reportedly cautioned not to follow them.

The police members drove back to Mokopane and handed the foreign nationals over to an unknown male suspect.

The complainant later went to Mokopane and Mahwelereng SAPS to enquire as to his passengers’ whereabouts but was unable to locate them.

A case was opened at Mahwelereng Police Station that was transferred to the Limpopo Provincial Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Investigation Unit for further investigation which led to the police members’ apprehension.

Ledwaba says that during the arrest on Sunday, an undisclosed amount of cash, presumably paid to one of the suspects, was seized at his residence.

Police investigations are continuing.