Police have arrested a 45-year-old man Thursday after he was caught extorting people by impersonating a police officer.
Police with community patrollers nabbed the suspect on the corner of Kerk and Troye streets in Johannesburg’s central business district (CBD) around 1pm.
Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said a 41-year-old man on the corner of Bree and Troye streets by four suspects.
“The victim had traveled from Pretoria to the Johannesburg CBD to buy things for his wedding in November.
“He was confronted by the bogus officers when one of them produced a fake appointment card (police name badge),” Mbele said.
The fake police then demanded for the victim’s passport.
When he was unable to produce it they demanded for R500.
“When he try to count it they grabbed all his money. The total amount taken was R1 800.”
One of the suspects was nabbed doing the patrol.
The captain indicated that the three other suspects were still on the run with the victim’s money.
Johannesburg CBD police station commander Brigadier Tony Perumal commended the patrollers.
“They (immigrants) must stop giving bogus police money. Real police don’t demand money, they arrest people without valid papers to be in a country.”
