The battle against crime is shaping up as police officers continue to close in on several groups that are suspected for their alleged roles in various priority crimes in Sunnyside, Pretoria.
In most recent times the police seem to be making inroads in their bid to put a stranglehold on alleged robberies and kidnappings that are believed to be executed by suspects that are operating from the Icasa block of flats in Jorissen Street.
Police spokesman, Captain Daniel Mavimbela referred to two suspects linked to the Icasa flats who made separate appearances in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court recently. Both men have launched their formal bail bids.
On Friday, Solomon Uche Onyeokweni (31) had his formal bail hearing postponed for seven days, while the same fate befell Clement Oghanim last Monday when his bail bid was postponed to 6 September.
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Mavimbela said Onyeokweni was arrested earlier this month after he was allegedly found to be in possession of a firearm that belonged to a 57-year-old Randfontein man who had allegedly been kidnapped from a local filling station.
“He was reportedly forced to drive to the Icasa block of flats, where among others, his bank card and ATM pin were taken,” said Mavimbela.
Reports suggest that transactions in excess of R50 000 were made from the victim’s bank account.
He said Oghanim had been on bail when he was arrested for robbery a little over a week ago.
“He is suspected of robbing a man who he met on a dating site. The victim had allegedly been lured to a flat in Sunnyside, back in January this year, following an agreement to have a same-sex intercourse with Oghanim.”
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According to Mavimbela, before that, Oghanim was arrested in March this year after a 21-year-old man was reportedly kidnapped while on a blind date with a woman in Sunnyside.
He said the victim’s brother was reportedly called with ransom demands, however, he notified the police and Oghanim was arrested.
“He was released on a R1 000 bail shortly thereafter, however, the investigating officers believe they have reasonable grounds to oppose both accused’s bail attempts,” according to Mavimbela.
Mavimbela warned that other online daters are still being cautioned that this is by no means a time for complacency.
“The police are still searching for other suspects that are believed to be part of the online dating scam.”
He said reports also suggested that online dating sex robbers operate in a group or groups of between three and five men who use women as bait, which means that the search is still ongoing.
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