Johannesburg - Police officer Enoch Motsepe was arrested when he collected ransom money for a kidnapping, the Germiston Regional Court heard on Monday.
Investigating officer Ephraim Tsebe was testifying during Motsepe's bail application. He faces charges of kidnapping, extortion, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
“He is facing very serious charges,” Tsebe said, through a court interpreter.
“He was found in possession of his colleague's identity card and he can continue to commit similar offences.”
Tsebe said on Monday, October 28, four men entered a house in Bedfordview, on the East Rand, claiming to be police officers.
They claimed to be looking for drugs and demanded to see the home owner, Ali Haji from Tanzania, asking for him by name.
When they could not find drugs, they took six watches worth R50,000 each, his BMW and a cellphone.
Tsebe told the court the men kidnapped him and initially demanded R100,000, but later wanted more. He said when it was arranged for the money to be picked up, Motsepe was arrested.
Police were searching for three other men and investigations could take another two or three months.
“I've applied for permission to get access to cellphones and there were a lot of cellphones involved,” Tsebe said.
“It is my opinion that the accused is not a suitable candidate for bail.”
Earlier, Motsepe told the court he was not a flight risk and that despite having a passport he had never travelled overseas.
“I am the only accused in this matter and I intend to plead not guilty to all charges,” his lawyer Tsepiso Matubatuba read from his affidavit in support of his bail application.
“I am not a flight risk. I have too much to risk if I abscond my trial. I will not interfere with the witnesses or the evidence.”
Dressed in a blue T-shirt and blue jeans, he entered the dock and looked at the public gallery, which was almost empty except for journalists.
Motsepe sat and looked straight ahead during proceedings. The court heard that he had a child who was dependent on him. He asked the court to consider the child's rights and indicated he could afford R2000 bail.
Motsepe was arrested after allegedly collecting the ransom at a Caltex petrol station on the N1 highway in Midrand.
Police shot and wounded hip hop singer Khuli Chana when he allegedly failed to stop at a roadblock they had set up at the petrol station's exit in an attempt to catch the kidnappers.
Sapa