BREAKING NEWS: Police free kidnapped cousins, six (6) to appear in court
*UPDATE 28 March* – HARTBEESPOORT – Six (6) men face charges of extortion and two counts of kidnapping, after they were arrested for the kidnapping of two teenage cousins in Brits, North West earlier this month. The suspects, which include a police officer, stationed at Letlhabile police station, appeared briefly in the Brits Magistrate court on Thursday.
Nathaniel Mokwena (41), Sandry Phage (58), Virgilo Hlongwane (33), Nkanyiso Hadebe (25), Boitumelo Bogatsu (44) and police officer Thuloane Makume (47) will join the alleged driver of the getaway car Humphry Martin at their next appearance.
According to police, Martin, the alleged driver of the getaway car, was arrested in Naturena on 8 March and has made several appearances in the same court. It furthermore emerged in court that one of the accused is out on bail for a similar matter involving allegations of kidnapping.
The six accused, appeared briefly before Magistrate Reagan Rosenberg under heavy police guard. After two of the accused asked for Legal Aid assistance, the matter was postponed for legal representation and formal bail application. The men remain in custody at the Hartbeespoort police stations.
*UPDATE 27 March* – BRITS – A multi-disciplinary team tasked to investigate the Mohammed cousins’ kidnapping, effected two more arrests on Tuesday, 26 March 2024. The suspects include a police Sergeant attached to Letlhabile Detectives.
The team also confiscated a vehicle, which was allegedly used during the commission of the crime. The number of arrested suspects remains at six. This after two of the initial six suspects arrested on Monday, 25 March 2024, were cleared and released after thorough interviews.
All the remaining six suspects are due to appear before the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 28 March 2024.
BRITS – Earlier this month, we reported the kidnapping of two cousins from Primindia, a suburb in Brits. Police immediately launched a manhunt for three unknown suspects following the kidnapping of Zahraa Mohammed (17) and Bataviya Mohammed (19). The pair were kidnapped in front of a primary school on the morning of March 6.
The cousins were driving from Bataviya’s home in Brits going to school in Hartbeesportdam when the car they were driving in was bumped from the front by a maroon Audi A3, thus forcing it to stop. Two armed men came out of the Audi A3 and ordered the cousins to get into a white Volkswagen Polo GTI that was driving behind the Audi A3. The suspects also got into the VW Polo GTI and fled the scene with the victims inside. The victims’ Mercedes Benz and the Audi A3 were found at the scene.
Recent reports alleged that the victims have been freed by police services. It is believed four (4) arrests have been made in the ongoing investigation. Well done to North West Police and all other units involved for the safe return of the victims.
