Milnerton police not involved in extortion case

Acting Milnerton police chief Colonel Helena Mouton says the station has come under attack from residents who believe the seven police officers who were arrested for allegedly extorting money from shops in the area were based at the station, but this is not the case.

“They were (allegedly) involved in a crime committed in our area and arrested in our area, and that created the confusion that they were stationed here,” she said.

When Tabletalk approached residents for comment, they all declined, saying they feared victimisation.

The seven police officers, aged 24 to 45 and all attached to the Public Order Policing Unit, were arrested on Sunday October 6 (“Seven cops arrested for extortion in Milnerton,” Tabletalk, October 9).

According to provincial police spokesman Colonel Andre Traut, the officers made their first appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday and were taken for further questioning, which led to the arrests of five more suspects, including three more police officers and two mall security guards.

All 12 suspects were due to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court this week, he said.