By Kaya 959 Reporter
A 23-year-old man accused of kidnapping a Pretoria woman last month has been denied bail.
Thabang Mokoena appeared in the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court on charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, kidnapping, possession of a dangerous weapon and extortion.
The State alleges that Mokoena and an accomplice kidnapped Tumisang Mokgatle after she dropped her child at a créche in Pretoria West.
“The two men claimed to be police officers from the SAPS Tracing Unit. They told her a vehicle similar to hers had been used in robberies in the area,” said Gauteng NPA spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana.
The men allegedly told her they were taking her VW Polo Vivo to the Hartbeespoort police station for verification.
Mokgatle’s hands were allegedly bound and she was placed in the boot of the men’s vehicle. Her vehicle was found abandoned at the Hartbeespoort Dam.
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Suspects demanded ransom money
Mahanjana said the men allegedly called Mokgatle’s brother, a Pretoria-based attorney and demanded R500 000 ransom money.
“Police received a tip-off that Mokgatle was being kept at a house in Kgabalatsane. Mokoena was found at the property, with a toy gun,” Mahanjana said.
She said the state argued during the bail application that the court should not grant Mokoena bail because of the seriousness of his offence and the fact that there are suspects that are yet to be arrested in relation to this matter.
“The accused also did not testify in support of his bail application therefore the court said Mokoena failed to prove that exceptional circumstances exist which in the interest of justice permit his release on bail. Therefore, his bail was denied,” Mahanjana said.
The matter was postponed to 13 October 2021.
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