WELKOM – A 41-year-old man was arrested in Botshabelo in connection with the alleged kidnapping and extortion of a 67-year-old pensioner who was forced to pay R55 000.

A third suspect has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and extortion of a 67-year-old pensioner in Welkom, with police apprehending the 41-year-old man during an intelligence-driven operation in Botshabelo.

The incident occurred on 14 August, when the pensioner was allegedly extorted out of R55 000.

The suspect was arrested near a tavern in J Section, Botshabelo, at about 22:00 on Saturday, 17 October, following an operation involving members of the Mangaung Metro District Operational Command Centre (DOCC) and Selosesha Crime Intelligence.

Police said an off-duty police official had spotted the wanted suspect, prompting officers to act on the information.

The 41-year-old man faces charges of kidnapping, extortion and impersonating a police official. His cellphone was confiscated and will form part of the investigation.

Two other suspects remain in custody

According to police, the latest arrest follows an investigation in which two other suspects, both aged 37, were arrested during September and October.

Both remain in custody, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to three.

Police discovered during efforts to trace the latest suspect that he had left his residence in an apparent attempt to evade arrest following the arrests of the other suspects.

The Free State Provincial Organised Crime Unit has not ruled out the possibility of further arrests as investigations continue.

Suspect to appear in court

The 41-year-old suspect was expected to make his first court appearance in the Welkom Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 19 October

ALSO READ: Suspected kidnappers remain in custody after Welkom court appearance