Three Eastern Cape policeman are due to appear in court on Wednesday in Dutywa on a charge of kidnapping.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Marinda Mills, says the arrest relates to an incident in May when a man was allegedly kidnapped by the policemen and a fourth suspect following a raid on his house in the Machibini Administrative Area near Dutywa.
The two Constables and a Sergeant, who were accompanied by a fourth suspect, told the man that they were searching for illegal firearms.
They then allegedly bundled the complainant into a VW Polo driven by the fourth civilian suspect, Vukile Ngcukwa, and made to withdraw a large sum of money from an ATM.
Mills says somebody alerted Mthatha police and Ngcukwa was the first to be arrested. He appeared in court and was released on bail of a thousand rand.
The policemen, Sergeant Funisile Mpukane (46), Constable Tulani Mlungisi (36) and Constable Vuyolwethu Mpaka (30) were granted bail of R1000 each and they will appear in court again on the 24th of July 2015.
Police Commissioner Celiwe Binta says it is a huge disappointment when members of the SAPS break the law and involve themselves with crime but at the same time we welcome the opportunity to rid the Organisation of individuals whose conduct is in total contradiction to the SAPS Code of Conduct and the majority of members who serve with integrity and discipline. The arrested members were automatically suspended when taken into custody and thereafter the formal disciplinary processes will unfold speedily.
