Johannesburg – Police officer Enoch Motsepe was denied bail by the Germiston Regional Court on Monday.

“He fell substantially short of this target [to provide exceptional circumstances why it would be in the interests of justice to grant him bail],” Magistrate Pieter du Plessis said.

“The case is postponed to 13 January for further investigation.”

Motsepe is accused of kidnapping, extortion and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Prosecutor Thabo Motlhamme said the charges against the 32-year-old detective constable from Silverton, Pretoria, were schedule six offences.

According to the Criminal Procedure Act such crimes require an accused to prove exceptional circumstances exist to be granted bail.

The court heard that the police were still searching for three men in connection with the kidnapping of a resident of Bedfordview, on the East Rand, on Monday, 28 October.

According to the State, four men entered the home of Ali Haji, from Tanzania, claiming they were police officers.

They took jewellery worth about R150 000, a BMW, and a cellphone.

They kidnapped Haji and demanded a R100 000 ransom from his family.

Ransom money

Motsepe was arrested after allegedly collecting the ransom at a Caltex petrol station on the N1 highway in Midrand.

Investigating officer Ephraim Tsebe was testifying during Motsepe’s bail application. He faces charges of kidnapping, extortion, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

“He is facing very serious charges,” Tsebe said, through a court interpreter.

“He was found in possession of his colleague’s identity card and he can continue to commit similar offences.”

Tsebe said: “I’ve applied for permission to get access to cellphones and there were a lot of cellphones involved.”

“It is my opinion that the accused is not a suitable candidate for bail.”

Police shot and wounded hip hop singer Khuli Chana when he allegedly failed to stop at a roadblock they had set up at the petrol station’s exit in an attempt to catch the kidnappers.

– SAPA