Convicts Run Extortion Ring From Prison Blackmailing People by Posing As Cops, R1.3 Million Taken

• Four prisoners were arrested for running an extortion ring that scammed victims out of R1.3 million
• The prisoners were arrested at Odi and Bavianspoort correction centres on Thursday night in a joint operation
• The inmates have been charged with extortion, impersonating a police officer, forgery and money laundering

PRETORIA - Four prisoners have been charged with extortion following the discovery of an elaborate scam they were running out of their jail cells.

The four men aged between 26 and 32 targeted men who used a secret online escort service. Lt-Col Philani Nkwalase revealed that the investigation into the extortion ring revealed that the inmates had used cell phones to orchestrate the scam.

They posed as fake police officers using information and images from unsuspecting police officers' social media accounts.

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TimesLIVE reported that the inmates were arrested at Odi and Bavianspoort correction centres on Thursday night.

The extortion scam was able to swindle R1.3 million from the victims in South Africa. EWN reported that the inmates were charged with extortion, impersonating a police officer, forgery and money laundering.

“Hired assassins”: Metro cop arrested for Katlehong tavern shooting, SA outraged

Earlier, Briefly News reported that an Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officer was arrested in connection with the deadly Katlehong tavern shooting on Friday, 22 July.

The tavern shooting left two people dead and four others injured. Police confirmed with News24 that the suspect is expected to appear in court on Monday, 25 July and that the investigation into the tavern shooting is underway.

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On Friday, 8 July, a group of armed men stormed into the Mputlane Inn tavern and randomly opened fire at patrons. Police Spokesperson Dimakatso Sello told EWN that one suspect was arrested.

Soweto tavern shooting believed to be caused by gangsterism that plagues township businesses

In a related matter, Briefly News also reported gangsterism and criminality are believed to be the reason for the deadly tavern shooting that claimed the lives of 15 people in the Nomzamo informal settlement in Orlando East on Sunday, 10 July.

Several other brutal tavern shootings took place at the weekend, leaving many injured or killed. Speaking to TimesLIVE, Violence Prevention Expert Gareth Newham believes that extortion could be a plausible motive behind the shooting.

Source: Briefly News