Investigating officer links police officer’s movements to teenager’s abduction case
The investigating officer in the abduction case involving Kamogelo Baukudi has revealed that the movements of the SAPS vehicle that was issued to the policeman arrested for the teenager’s kidnapping match those of the victim’s car and places the 42-year-old officer at the crime scene.
Baukudi, 19, went missing for 20 days last month.
Nzima Adoons, the police officer who is facing charges of kidnapping and extortion, appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where his bail application was postponed to next Thursday, July 10.
Last month, Adoons was arrested after the vehicle, identified as a white double-cab, used to abduct Baukudi, was linked to him.
Baukudi, who has since been reunited with his family, was found alive in Wepener, Free State, last week after being abducted while being driven home from Martie du Plessis Special Needs School.
Adoons has previously denied knowing Baukudi, his family, or anything else related to the kidnapping.
However, during testimony before the court on Monday, the investigating officer revealed that the double-cab was assigned to Adoons at the time of the alleged abduction.
“The description of the vehicle was given, and we know in most cases, even our supply chain knows which vehicles were allocated to whom on a particular day. This Toyota, as it was given, with dark windows that was identified as being from the anti-gang unit. A follow-up was made using the vehicle tracking system. Upon checking, all the GD6 Vehicles that we know about were also checked if they were never in that area, and there were no other GD6-type vehicles in the area,” the officer told the court.
Baukudi was rescued by the Free State police last Friday morning, after which five suspects, who have since been released, were arrested during the early morning operation.
It is reported that the 42-year-old officer has been issued with a letter of intention for suspension for him to give reasons why he should not be suspended.
“Your worship, as far as the documentation is concerned, it should be noted that this is not a suspension, but the intention for suspension. He should give reasons why he should not be suspended. The accused is invited to give reasons,” said the State prosecutor to the court.
Free State SAPS provincial spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, indicated that the prosecution had upgraded the case from Schedule 1 to Schedule 5 due to the seriousness of the charges.
However, on Monday, in a dramatic twist, five other suspects who were accused of taking part in the elaborate kidnapping scheme were released as they could not be linked to the abduction.
According to media reports, these suspects said they intend to sue the State as they claim they were assaulted and wrongfully arrested.
