Alleged extortionists posed as cops to scam victim

FIVE alleged extortionists – including a pastor, a taxi driver, a former police reservist, and a former police officer – appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court this week, with two of the accused abandoning their bail applications.

The accused – James Chimboyo, Luthando Mangaliso, Kgositsile Moseki, Andrew Pillay, and Jonas Riedt – are from Kimberley, Ritchie, and De Aar.

They face charges of extortion, impersonating a police officer, and kidnapping. In addition, Chimboyo, a former police officer, was charged with possession of ammunition.

The accused have previous convictions and pending cases related to fraud, kidnapping, extortion, and corruption allegedly committed in various locations in the Northern Cape.

According to the State, the complainant, who is from Upington, met two unknown men at the Information Centre in Kimberley on April 23, who offered him a mining contract.

He was shown a bag of money as part of the purported business deal and transferred R50,000 – followed by another R50,000 – into their bank account with the promise of earning dividends.

He was then instructed to drive to Elizabeth Conradie School, where he was approached by three vehicles, including two bakkies and a marked police van.

The accused allegedly introduced themselves as a SAPS colonel, captain, and warrant officer and claimed that the complainant and his two friends accompanying him were in a child kidnapping hot spot.

They further claimed that one of the men who initially approached the complainant with the business contract was a wanted suspect in diamond-related crimes.

The complainant and his friends were then transported to the Kagisho police station and while en route, the accused allegedly threatened the complainant, stating that if he did not pay over a sum of money, the female witness would be raped and killed.

The complainant proceeded to transfer R66,000 via electronic bank transfer and was then taken to withdraw an additional R3,000 in cash from the ATM at Monument Spar.

Afterwards, the complainant and his friends were released and instructed to return to Upington. He was allegedly threatened that he would be killed if he reported the matter to the police.

The accused apparently also took a photo of the complainant’s identity document and forced him to provide his residential address.

The State opposed bail, arguing that the accused were already out on bail for related charges and that there was a strong likelihood they would reoffend if released.

Legal representative Kenneth Juries pointed out that his clients’ previous legal troubles occurred a long time ago and proposed that Moseki and Riedt be granted bail of R500 each.

He added that Moseki’s culpable homicide conviction dated back to 2009 and was unrelated to the current case.

“Riedt only met the complainant at the Information Centre and was not at the scene of any crime. He is a pastor and taxi owner in Ritchie,” said Juries.

He also objected to the identification process, claiming that the complainant was shown photographs of the accused before the identity parade.

Pillay’s legal representative argued that if his client remained in custody, he would be unable to pay rent and his wife and child would face eviction.

Chimboyo and Mangaliso have abandoned their bail applications.

The case continues before Magistrate Maimane Booi.