Sgt. Nzima Adoons (42) testified in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court for his bail application on Monday (30/6).

Five other suspects were set to appear in the same court after him, following their arrest on Friday.

Adoons denied knowing Kamogelo Baukudi, his family, or anything else related to the kidnapping.

He said he was questioned by Mangaung Metro District Commissioner, Maj. Gen. Arthur Peter Adams, on Friday, 6 June, at the cluster offices about his whereabouts on the day of the kidnapping, the vehicle he was driving, and was asked to dial numbers on his phone to see if he had them saved.

“An identity parade was done on Sunday, a day after I was arrested at the Mangaung Police Station,” said Adoons. “I wasn’t pointed out at the identity parade. I don’t know the victim, his family or the extortion amount demanded from the family.”

Baukudi was found alive in Wepener following a coordinated rescue operation under Adams’ leadership.

Sgt. Nzima Adoons applied for bail in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court. Photo: Zenande Mpame

Of the five male suspects (20 to 29) who were arrested, three were apprehended at a house in Kanana, Wepener, while two others were caught on the road between Kwetla and Wepener with the victim in their company.

Adoons’ legal representative, Adriaan van Rensburg, informed the court that the charge sheet had been amended by the state on Sunday, 22 June. The amendment reclassified the bail application from a schedule 1 to a schedule 5 case. “For this, we have appointed a lawyer to handle the bail application.

“Gen. Adams explained to me that I was linked to the kidnapping on Friday because of the vehicle,” said Adoons. “The vehicle’s location showed that it was on the scene on the day of the kidnapping.”

The case continues in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cg