Free State Police Officers arrested in Heilbron corruption and kidnapping case

HEILBRON - The Free State Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit is calling on the public to help identify two unidentified men linked to an ongoing investigation into kidnapping, theft, assault, corruption, fraud, and extortion in Heilbron. Their images have been released in a media statement. The case stems from a January 11, 2024, incident where four men, posing as police officers, entered a local shop. The shop owner was searched, and an undisclosed amount of cash was stolen from his pocket. The suspects also seized cigarettes before assaulting the victim and transporting him about 10 kilometers outside Heilbron, where he was abandoned. His brothers were later deceived into paying an undisclosed amount of money for his release. Two police officers, Sergeants Petrus Seeco (41) and Makhetha Mpeka (43) from the Fezile Dabi Trio Task Team, have already been arrested. They appeared in court, and their case was postponed to March 7, 2025, for a formal bail application. Two more suspects remain at large. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Sgt. Tebogo Seekoei at 060 981 1458.