As the crime wave continues, two police constables in Bloemfontein find themselves on the wrong side of the law following their arrest regarding an alleged kidnapping.
The pair, Masixole Emsly Luyanda Nogabe (34) and Francis Lehlonoholo Sefuthi (32), were each released on bail of R1 000 during their appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Monday (14/08).
The officers are attached to the Kagisanong Visible Policing unit in Bloemfontein.
Capt. Loraine Earle, provincial spokesperson for the police, said the pair’s arrest was the culmination of an investigation by the Police Anti-Corruption unit, after receiving information about the officers’ arrest of a foreign national and their demands for money for his release.
The officers were arrested on Friday (11/08).
“This was after the director of public prosecution made a decision to prosecute them for an incident that took place in July this year.
“The docket was then sent to the director for a decision,” said Earle.
She said Sefuthi and Nogabe faced charges of corruption, defeating the ends of justice, kidnapping, and extortion.
To orchestrate the plan, the two officers allegedly arrested a male foreign national, with the intent of demanding money from a friend to release their captive.
“The unit operationalised, and the friend, who is the complainant in the matter, was given the money and kept under observation.
“The police constables then allegedly called the friend from the arrested person’s cellphone, telling him they would come for their money. When they arrived at the shop of the complainant, he spoke to the undercover police officials who left him with the money. The police vehicle was stopped by members of the Anti-Corruption unit and a person was found at the back of the police bakkie,” said Earle.
The incident that led to the two officers’ arrest happened on 7 July. The court hearing was postponed to 14 September, after the duo had spent a weekend in custody.
