GAUTENG – Frans Kgoroba Tumi Pookgoadi (47) who is allegedly a key syndicate member of an extortion ring that includes police officials in Gauteng province was re-arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation in Germiston on Thursday, 25 March 2021.
Pookgoadi was initially arrested together with his co-accused on 18 March 2021 on a kidnapping and corruption related allegations and has since appeared in court. He was positively linked through intelligence investigation following a July 2019 incident where suspects allegedly extorted R200 000 from a Department of Home Affairs official. They allegedly forced the complainant to withdraw money and later dropped him off at a petrol station on the M2.
A warrant of arrested was issued for his apprehension, this was successfully executed on Thursday. He appeared in the Germiston Magistrates’ Court on 25 March 2021 and is remanded in custody. The case is postponed to 06 April 2021 for a formal bail application.
Pookgoadi is expected to join his accomplices, Warrant Officer Lolo Frans Monyelo (52), Sergeant Fihlang Hezekiel Molefe (47), Sergeant Matlhaku Costaff Molete (40), Constable Mathaleha Ramalobela (35), and Constable Lucus Malwela (34) on 16 April 2021 in the Hardacht Regional Court in Germiston.
Source: South African Police Service