FREE STATE. – A 37-year-old woman was arrested early Tuesday morning at the Jabulani hostel in Soweto in connection with the alleged abduction and extortion of a 67-year-old pensioner in Welkom.
Sergeant Palesa Thabana, police spokesperson, said the provincial organised crime unit worked together with the tactical response teams of Welkom and Zamdela to investigate information about the suspect. She was traced and arrested at approximately 05:00.
The arrest relates to an incident on 14 August when the 67-year-old man was allegedly extorted of R55 000 after being abducted. The woman allegedly arranged an appointment with the man regarding a possible job opportunity. The appointment was in the car park in Potgieter Street, Dagbreek, Welkom. Shortly thereafter, two unknown men, who allegedly posed as police officers, took the man and the woman with them. The woman was allegedly dropped off outside the Thabong police station, after which the man was allegedly forced to hand over his bank cards and money was withdrawn from his account. He was also allegedly forced to transfer money into two separate bank accounts at a bank. He was later dropped off at an Engen petrol station.
A case of abduction and extortion was reported to police and assigned to the provincial organised crime unit for further investigation. The 37-year-old woman was subsequently identified as a person of interest. She is expected to appear soon in the Welkom magistrate's court on charges of abduction and extortion.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
