FREE STATE – A 49-year-old suspect is expected to appear before the Bothaville Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, 3 March 2023 facing charges of extortion. The suspect was arrested by the Welkom based Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team with the assistance of Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit and Provincial Organised Crime in Bothaville on 1 March 2023.
It is alleged that the suspect who pretended to be a prosecutor approached a man who is allegedly facing a criminal matter that occurred in 2021. He allegedly demanded R100 000 to ‘withdraw’ the charges against him.
They allegedly met at the bank in the Bothaville Central Business District (CBD) to withdraw the demanded gratification which was requested from a fixed account. While they were waiting, the suspect demanded R5000 to be withdrawn from the ATM while waiting for the release of the entire amount from the bank.
The complainant alerted the Hawks the previous day and the suspect was arrested after the transaction.