Corrupt police officer and civilian sentenced for kidnapping, extortion

A Free State police officer and a civilian have been sentenced in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption, extortion, kidnapping, and assault.

Constable Bontle Mpolokeng Monnenyane, 41, and Refilwe Tumelo Koetle, 33, were convicted on charges of a crime perpetrated in 2017.

The provincial spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks) Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti said the duo was arrested on December 15, 2017. 

“The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation in Bloemfontein reacted to a complaint about corruption and extortion. The complainant told the police that her brother was taken by Monnenyane and her brother’s ex-girlfriend, Koetle, who said he was under arrest for possession of a stolen vehicle. The duo visited the victim’s mother and told her that her son (the victim) was arrested and Koetle’s father had paid R10,000 bail for his release which needed to be reimbursed,” Matoti said. 

An undercover operation was set up by detectives to trap the duo.

“The detectives swiftly set up an undercover operation which led them to the victim's workplace where it was confirmed that the duo took the victim's bank card demanding to withdraw R10,000 since it was his pay day. Upon realising that the employer still needed to deposit the salary, they arranged to come back later. The duo was arrested and charged with corruption, extortion, kidnapping, and assault,” Matoti said.

While numerous postponements delayed the court case, the duo were convicted on the charges on November 11, 2024.

Monnenyane was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for corruption, three years for kidnapping, three years for extortion, and six months for assault. The sentences are to run concurrently, resulting in an effective 12 years imprisonment.

Koetle was sentenced to eight years imprisonment for corruption and two years imprisonment for extortion. The sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective eight years imprisonment. Both Monnenyane and Koetle were declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Acting head of the Hawks in the Free State, Brigadier Sophie Hange welcomed the sentencing. 

“No law enforcement official is above the law. The corrupt extortionists shall be removed,” Hange said. 

Monnenyane was dismissed from the police service in 2018.

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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