Three Limpopo cops in the dock for kidnapping Ethiopian nationals
Three police officers in Limpopo have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of five foreign nationals.
Constable Tebatso Leso (30), Sergeant Risimati Mbhenyani (42) and 52-year-old Sergeant Madimetja Mokebe appeared in the Mokopane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The three were remanded in custody, and are expected back in court on Friday.
They are accused of kidnapping Ethiopian nationals while they were travelling to the Department of Home Affairs in Tshwane to renew their asylum permits.
"The five foreign nationals were allegedly taken from his motor vehicle and put inside the back of the police bakkie, and he was cautioned not to follow them,” said provincial police spokesperson Malesela Ledwaba.
"They drove back to Mokopane and handed them to an unknown male suspect.
"The complainant later went to Mokopane and Mahwelereng SAPS to enquire but could not find them and a case was opened in Mahwelereng police station and transferred to Limpopo Provincial Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Investigation Unit for further investigations. That led to their apprehension."
Three suspects were arrested at their respective homes Sunday, where an undisclosed amount of cash presumably paid to one of the suspects was also seized.
The other two officers handed themselves over to the police on Tuesday, and are expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
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