BRITS POS – BRITS – A multi-disciplinary team tasked to investigate the Mohammed cousins’ kidnapping, effected two more arrests on Tuesday, 26 March. The suspects include a police Sergeant attached to Letlhabile Detectives.
The team also confiscated a vehicle, which was allegedly used during the commission of the crime.
The number of arrested suspects remains at six. This after two of the initial six suspects arrested on Monday, 25 March, were cleared and released after thorough interviews.
All the remaining six suspects are due to appear before the Brits Magistrates’ Court today, Thursday, 28 March on two counts of kidnapping and extortion.
Zahraa Mohammed (17) and Bataviya Mohammed (19), the cousins who were kidnapped in Brits on Wednesday, 6 March 2024 were found alive and well but traumatised on Monday evening, 25 March after their ordeal in a house at New Stands, Klipgat near Winterveldt, approximately 50km northeast of Brits.
A multi-disciplinary team comprising of Provincial Organised Crime, Head Office Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Bojanala Platinum Sub-District 2 Task Team and Brits Crime Intelligence have been working tirelessly to locate the cousins and arrested six suspects. The first suspect, Humphrey Martin (48), was arrested in the early hours of Friday morning, 8 March 2024, at Naturena, in Johannesburg, about 110km from Brits. He has appeared in Brits Magistrates’ Court on 11, 18, and 25 March 2024. He remains in custody and is expected to appear again on Monday, 8 April 2024, for formal bail application.
The victims were examined by paramedics at Klipgat police station’s victim room and found to be in a good state of health, except for exhaustion and trauma. They were safely reunited with their families without any visible injuries.
The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena welcomed the latest developments especially the arrest of a police officer, which he said will serve as an indication that no one is above the law and that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that alleged perpetrators are brought to book. The General reiterated that tarnishing of the South African Police Service (SAPS) image by unethical employees will not be tolerated.
