A police officer was one of seven men arrested in Table View for allegedly being part of a kidnapping ring that demanded a R60 000 ransom.
According to provincial police spokesman, Captain FC van Wyk, the men were arrested last week after allegedly trying to extort money from a mother whose son was held captive.
Captain Van Wyk said a woman had entered Table View police station on Wednesday May 1 saying her son had been kidnapped and shot in the leg.
Later the woman claimed the kidnappers had called her demanding R60 000 for her son’s release or they would kill him.
They instructed her to drop off the money at the petrol station in Raats Drive on the same day.
The police arrested the suspects at the petrol station at 9.50pm.
Captain van Wyk said: “Officers quickly used initiative, and a plan was set in motion to trap the suspects.
“When the mother was due to meet the suspects, she made contact with the officers again. They went to the garage where the transaction was due to take place.
“Two vehicles were involved, seven suspects were arrested and two firearms were confiscated. One of the suspects involved is a police official. His appointment certificate was handed in as evidence,” he said.
Table View SAPS spokeswoman Captain Adriana Chandler said that the kidnapped victim was in his 20s and had later been found in a container in Dunoon.
The suspects had told the arresting officers where to find the victim.
Captain Chandler said the arrested police officer was a member of the South African Railway Police in Retreat.
The suspects were charged with extortion and released on bail after their court appearance at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday May 2. They appeared again on Monday May 6. They are out on bail and are set to appear again on Tuesday June 25.
Captain Chandler confirmed that the victim had not been shot and investigations were still ongoing.
