Nineteen-year-old Kamogelo Baukudi has been found alive in Wepener following a successful coordinated rescue operation. Kamogelo was abducted on the 5th of June, triggering a major investigation that has now resulted in six arrests.
According to police, five additional suspects were arrested during the rescue, bringing the total number of people in custody to six. Among them is a 42-year-old police sergeant, Philemon Adoons, who was the first to be arrested. He appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court earlier this week on charges of kidnapping and extortion.
The case shocked the nation when it was revealed that after Adoons’ arrest, unknown individuals believed to be working with him contacted Kamogelo’s family and demanded a ransom of R7 million, threatening to kill the teen if the money wasn’t paid.
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Investigations linked Adoons to the callers, leading police to add an extortion charge to his case. The court also ordered that his face not be shown to the public, as a child witness is expected to identify him.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the condition of Kamogelo following his rescue but have assured the public that he is safe.
The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests have not been ruled out.
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