PRETORIA � A Soshanguve man formerly convicted of murder and robbery and was released last year on parole has been arrested for extortion and impersonation.
The 40 year old suspect was arrested in Bronkhorstspruit on Thursday after he attempted to extort R300 000 from a former Mayor retaining the same modus operandi of destroying a case docket against the victim.
The suspect cladding a Hawks t-shirt and parading as a Captain was found with a number of blank arrest warrants, search warrants, the Pretoria Regional Court date stamp and a fake correspondence letter with a Hawks logo. Seemingly the victim’s search and arrest warrants were also ready for execution by the suspect. He is expected to appear at the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate Court today.
The suspect’s arrest brings to three the number of Hawks impersonators arrested in the past two months. Former Tactical Response Team (TRT) Constable Rynno du Plessis (30) was arrested at the beginning of June inside Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre. He is expected to appear again next month at the Cullinan Magistrate Court.
In May this year Gabriel Paul (40) was also arrested and will appear on 16 July 2019 at the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court. Similar investigations are still ongoing and arrests are expected soon.
Source: South African Police Service