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While Eastern Cape police are working around the clock to end extortion-related crimes in the province, court cases have become more prevalent.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane recently revealed that 36 cases of extortion have been opened in the province and numerous arrests have been made since the South African Police Services (SAPS) launched an extortion hotline in August.
One such case is currently on the court roll at the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Gqeberha against a Pretoria accountant, Mulalo Portia Tshitambo.
She faces charges of extortion, fraud, and corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
Tshitambo was allegedly part of a syndicate that duped a Gqeberha businessman, who made use of the services of a prostitute, into thinking that he was being investigated for fraud and rape after his encounter with the woman.
The complainant, whose name is known to Algoa FM News, eventually turned to the SAPS for help after he had already been duped out of more than R700,000.
According to the charge sheet, the complainant met a woman at a guesthouse in February 2022, paid for services rendered after their interlude, and left.
During the same month, however, a member of the syndicate who introduced himself as "Mr Makwena" contacted the complainant, purporting to be an SAPS Warrant Officer.
He told the complainant that he was being investigated for fraud and rape by a woman who was apprehended by SAPS for having counterfeit currency.
The complainant was informed that the woman alleged that she received the counterfeit currency from him and that he raped her.
He coughed up R10,000 when Makwena told him that he was willing to assist to have the matter withdrawn.
After his initial payment, the extortion by the syndicate for more payments continued unabated from March to November 2022.
The man succumbed to the extortion after receiving numerous threatening phone calls, threatening him with criminal prosecution if he failed to comply with their demands.
The State alleges that R390,500 was paid into an FNB account that belonged to the accused.
Instant Money Transfers to the tune of R355,050 were also done to various cell phone numbers supplied to him by members of the syndicate.
When it became evident that the extortion "will never end" the complainant laid a complaint with SAPS on 29 December 2022.
The corruption and defeating the ends of justice charge pertains to Tshitambo allegedly telling Sergeant Ntshanyana that she wanted to purchase the docket from SAPS for R30,000.
It is further alleged that the accused flew to Gqeberha to strike the deal, and that she was arrested after handing Ntshanyana the money.
The trial will start on 21 November.
