The bail application for 8 police officers facing charges of extortion has been postponed to October 22, 2024, in the Cape Town Magistrates Court.
A 9th suspect, a former police officer, has also been added to the case.
The suspects are facing four charges, including robbery with aggravated circumstances, extortion, and defeating the ends of justice.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirms that the state will oppose bail.
“We will be coming back on the 22nd for a bail application, which we will be opposing because we believe it is a schedule 6 bail application,” Ntabazalila said. Under schedule 6, the onus is on the accused to show to the court that it is in the interest of them to be released on bail.”
Kidnapping and extortion
In a separate case, a 31-year-old suspect is expected to appear in the Paarl Magistrates Court on charges of kidnapping and extortion.
The suspect was arrested by a multidisciplinary task team on Tuesday, after being linked to a kidnapping incident last month involving four individuals held hostage.
Western Cape Hawks’ spokesperson Zinzi Hani says the suspect’s home in Samora Machel on the Cape Flats was used as a safe house, with kidnappers demanding a ransom of R100 000 per person.
She says, “The team reacted on information received about a security officer at Fidelity ADT, who is linked to a kidnapping incident that occurred on 22 August 2024, where four individuals, a family were kidnapped and kept at the suspect’s home then three days later were released and rescued at a nearby BP garage in Philippi East whilst their vehicle was found abandoned in Endlovini. The suspect was arrested at his workplace.”
Hani added that the suspect is the second arrest in the case, and more arrests are expected.
Eight police officers nabbed for extortion
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