Two police officers arrested for trafficking of human and allegedly raping victims held hostage

Estimated reading time: 5 minute(s)

Photos: Google

Hawks have confirmed an arrest of two senior police officials for the alleged involvement of trafficking of human.

The officials a Brigadier and a Captain allegedly visited an identified illegal brothel in Vereeniging where one of the victims who was allegedly reported missing and held hostage for the purpose of sexual exploitation was kept at. The two officials allegedly forced themselves on the victim and raped her on numerous occasions and paid money to the brothel owner.

The arrest of the officers who are both 57 years old and the busting of the brothel came following an intelligence driven investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation.

They found the brothel in Vereeniging after they received a tip regarding trafficking in persons’ allegations.

Hawks’ Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu said that further investigations revealed that after the victim escaped from the brothel, she reported the matter at the police station and was allegedly forced by one of the suspects to open a staged rape case against a family member in order to divert the investigation focus.

Warrrants of arrest were later on executed against the two police officers with the assistance of DPCI Provincial and National Trafficking in Persons’ Team, Tactical Response Team, and Crime Scene.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) Acting Provincial Head, Brigadier Wendy Mashwabane welcomed their arrest.

“Human trafficking is an evil form of modern day slavery, a network that preys on the vulnerability of fellow human beings for self-enrich. The DPCI is committed to tackling this scourge in collaboration with our partners in government and civil society. Members of the public are urged to report any suspicions of trafficking in persons to crime stop hotline or their nearest DPCI office”, Brigadier Mashwabane.