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Empty benches in court.
A 40-year-old man from Botshabelo in Free the State is set to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court later today for fraud, extortion, and defeating the course of justice.
The suspect is alleged to have made telephone calls to business owners in Botshabelo, Thaba-Nchu, and Bloemfontein alerting them about planned robberies and demanded cash in exchange for information.
The businesses include a cash-in-transit management security company, supermarkets, and a construction equipment and home improvement retail store.
Hawks Spokesperson Zweli Mohobeleli says the companies deployed additional resources in anticipation of the reported robberies and police were also placed on high alert to intercept the robberies.
Mohobeleli says in the end the information proved to be false.
He says the suspect was arrested following a sting operation and cellphones believed to have been used in the commission of crime were confiscated.
#sapsHAWKS [FIGHT AGAINST EXTORTION] Free State: A 40yr-old Botshabelo man will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court today, for fraud, #extortion and defeating the course of justice. #FightAgainstExtortion ME pic.twitter.com/8BL6ybXiNC
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) August 28, 2025
