This, after the trio attempted to bribe an investigating officer to drop charges against a woman accused of kidnapping a 12-year-old boy in Lesotho last week. The woman allegedly tried to smuggle the boy into South Africa.

Police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, says a man phoned the investigator claiming to be the alleged kidnapper’s husband and offered him R2000 for the case to be dropped.

Two women were sent to hand over this alleged bribe and were arrested instantly. He was later arrested in Welkom.

Meanwhile, the alleged kidnapper, 39-year-old Maria Ramona, appeared before the Wepener District Court yesterday. She will again appear in the same court on 24 February. The case was referred to the Bloemfontein Serious Organised Crime Investigation team for further investigation.

This came about after a motorist from Lesotho spotted her with the boy who was still dressed in his school uniform. He approached her and she could not explain the reason for the boy being in her company. He alerted the police and she was consequently arrested. The boy was taken to a place of safety.

OFM News