WELKOM – A second suspect has been arrested in connection with a kidnapping and extortion incident in Welkom.

A 37-year-old man was arrested on Friday 2 October, following a joint operation involving the Free State Provincial Organised Crime Investigation unit, the Mangaung Metro District Operational Command Centre (DOCC), Crime Combating unit, and Selosesha Crime Intelligence.

Information about the suspect’s whereabouts led investigators to J-Section in Botshabelo. During the arrest, the suspect allegedly attempted but failed to destroy his cellphone.

This arrest relates to an incident in Welkom on Friday 14 August, when a 67-year-old pensioner was allegedly kidnapped and extorted of R55 000.

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According to police, the pensioner had arranged to meet a woman in a parking area in Potgieter Street, Dagbreek, Welkom, after she promised to secure a mining job for his son.

During the meeting, two men posing as police officials kidnapped the pensioner before threatening and extorting money from him.

Investigators established that the newly arrested suspect had been in contact with the pensioner before the incident, and had helped arrange the meeting that led to the incident.

The woman, also 37, was arrested in Soweto on Tuesday 29 September. She made her first appearance in the Welkom Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 1 October. The male suspect is expected to appear in the same court on Monday 5 October, on charges of impersonating a police official, kidnapping, and extortion.