Five nabbed for Randburg extortion, kidnapping

The suspects were allegedly pretending to be taxi association patrollers, affiliated with PRS taxi association in Pretoria. 

They used this to extort money from unsuspecting motorists giving lifts to hitchhikers in the Randburg area.

Charges were laid after the men attempted to extort money from a truck owner at the Randburg  licencing centre on Thursday.

"Whilst on patrol along Malibongwe Drive and the N1 searching for the suspects, officers identified the vehicle matching the description used in the commission of the crime,” says metro police spokesperson Xolani Fihla. 

“They tactically approached and stopped the vehicle. While searching they discovered that one of the occupants was a victim of extortion who the suspects had forced to withdraw R4000.

"Following up on further information officers apprehended more suspects linked to the syndicate that has been terrorising the community of Randburg.”

Fihla says all five suspects are Zimbabwean nationals. 

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