The police officers are accused of demanding money from a truck driver, kidnapping him in a police van and driving to different ATMs to withdraw money from the victim’s account.
THREE Free State police officers who were arrested for corruption and kidnapping will apply for bail next week.
The Anti-Corruption Unit arrested the trio on August 17 for an incident that took place in December last year.
Two sergeants and a constable, from Bloemspruit, Park Road, and the K9 Unit, are facing charges of corruption, extortion, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.
“It is alleged that the three were on patrol duties on December 14, 2022, when they stopped a truck with a trailer on the N1 south, just outside of Bloemfontein,“ said police spokesperson Loraine Earle.
She said the officers demanded money from the owner of the truck in order not to arrest his son, but when they went to a mall in the south of Bloemfontein to draw money from an ATM, they were unsuccessful.
“They chased down the truck and at about 20km from Verkeerdevlei Toll Plaza, they stopped the truck again. This time, they allegedly took the driver with them in a police vehicle and went to three spots to withdraw money. They allegedly managed to withdraw R2,000 before they took the driver back to the truck,” she said.
They appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The case against the three was postponed to August 28 for formal bail application.
Free State provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Baile Motswenyane said receiving news about members being on the wrong side of the law was not good for the image of the police.
“Members of the police who cross the line will not receive any special treatment in the course of justice as they will receive the same treatment as any other accused,” said Motswenyane.
