Ex-cop poses as police officer to kidnap couple and steal car - IOL

A former police sergeant who allegedly posed as a police officer to kidnap and extort a couple in Botshabelo, Free State, has been arrested following an intelligence-led operation.

A former South African Police Service (SAPS) sergeant, already out on bail for business robbery, has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a couple under the pretence of arresting them, extorting money from them and stealing their vehicle in Botshabelo, Free State.

The 33-year-old former officer was arrested following an intelligence-led operation involving the Mangaung Metro Operational Command Centre Crime Combating Unit, Provincial Counter Intelligence and Selosesha Crime Intelligence.

Free State police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane said the suspect was also accused of impersonating police officials during the incident.

According to police, the incident occurred on Friday, October 23, 2026, at about 11.30pm, when a group of suspects, some wearing police reflector jackets, allegedly entered a house in A-Section, Botshabelo.

“They kidnapped two victims, a couple, under the pretext that they were being arrested,” Covane said.

The victims were allegedly blindfolded and forced into a white Volkswagen Polo Vivo, while their grey Toyota Corolla was also taken and driven to an unknown address.

On Saturday, October 24, the couple's family members were alerted by their banking institution about suspicious large withdrawals from their bank account. The bank was reportedly unable to reach the account holders to verify the transactions.

“When the family managed to contact the victims, the victims informed them under duress that they were relaxing at a hotel in Bloemfontein and would return on Sunday,” Covane said.

He said the victims were eventually released on Sunday but did not immediately report the incident to police because the suspects had threatened to kill them and their family members if they did so.

The couple was allegedly extorted an undisclosed amount of money.

Covane said the case was only opened at Botshabelo police station on Monday, 26 October.

At about 9.30am that day, Provincial Crime Intelligence shared information with the Mangaung Metro Operational Command Centre Crime Combating Unit after receiving a request for assistance from Evaton police.

Evaton police had reportedly been asked to identify the owner of a cellphone number linked to suspicious deposits into a bank account. The account holder had reported the transactions to police, while the cellphone number's owner was believed to be from Botshabelo.

Members of Selosesha Crime Intelligence were tasked with identifying the cellphone number's owner.

“The 33-year-old owner was successfully identified, a former SAPS sergeant who was stationed at Tweespruit SAPS and resigned in April 2026 after being arrested for business robbery at a chain store in Ladybrand,” Covane said.

The suspect's vehicle was identified as a white Volkswagen Golf 6.

Police further established that the suspect was planning to travel from Botshabelo to Bloemfontein.

A joint operation was subsequently launched, resulting in his arrest near the mall.

“Upon interviewing the suspect, it was positively confirmed that the cellphone number belonged to him,” Covane said.

The suspect was arrested and detained in police custody.

His two cellphones, a blue Samsung A06 valued at R8,999 and a blue Itel cellphone valued at R300, were seized and handed over to the Botshabelo Evidence Management System.

Covane said further investigations established that the suspect was already out on R10,000 bail in connection with a business robbery case in Ladybrand.

The former officer is expected to appear before the Botshabelo Magistrate's Court soon.

He faces charges of kidnapping, impersonating a police official, extortion and theft of a motor vehicle.