Police have arrested two siblings for allegedly trying to extort R24,000 from family members by staging a fake kidnapping for ransom in Garankuwa.
A sister was falsely reported as missing last month with the collusion of her boyfriend, the Hawks alleged.
The siblings, aged 39 and 32, were arrested in a sting operation.
Hawks spokesperson Capt Lloyd Ramovha said Garankuwa police became suspicious when the boyfriend's version did not hold up under questioning.
"Investigations uncovered the missing person report was false.
"The trio allegedly colluded and staged a kidnapping incident to extort R24,000 from family members for the safe release of their ‘kidnapped’ sibling."
The ploy unravelled further when the boyfriend, a foreigner, was arrested and detained for allegedly being in the country illegally
The siblings came to his aid and allegedly offered to pay a detective R10,000 to derail the case.
The Hawks’ serious corruption crime unit investigators were alerted and the siblings were arrested on Monday after they paid the money, Ramovha said.
The case was partially heard in the Pretoria magistrate's court on Wednesday, but postponed until Tuesday for a bail application.
The "missing" sibling is yet to return home.
TimesLIVE
Siblings arrested in fake missing person inquiry
Image: 123RF
Police have arrested two siblings for allegedly trying to extort R24,000 from family members by staging a fake kidnapping for ransom in Garankuwa.
A sister was falsely reported as missing last month with the collusion of her boyfriend, the Hawks alleged.
The siblings, aged 39 and 32, were arrested in a sting operation.
Hawks spokesperson Capt Lloyd Ramovha said Garankuwa police became suspicious when the boyfriend's version did not hold up under questioning.
"Investigations uncovered the missing person report was false.
"The trio allegedly colluded and staged a kidnapping incident to extort R24,000 from family members for the safe release of their ‘kidnapped’ sibling."
The ploy unravelled further when the boyfriend, a foreigner, was arrested and detained for allegedly being in the country illegally
The siblings came to his aid and allegedly offered to pay a detective R10,000 to derail the case.
The Hawks’ serious corruption crime unit investigators were alerted and the siblings were arrested on Monday after they paid the money, Ramovha said.
The case was partially heard in the Pretoria magistrate's court on Wednesday, but postponed until Tuesday for a bail application.
The "missing" sibling is yet to return home.
TimesLIVE
READ MORE:
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Cape Town gambler allegedly fakes kidnapping, steals rent money and extorts cash from family
One of Ditebogo’s alleged killers has pending attempted murder case, another suspected to be in SA illegally
Anti-kidnapping units making 'commendable progress' in rescuing victims, says Masemola
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