A 42-year-old police officer allegedly linked to the kidnapping of a teenager from Bloemfontein made a brief appearance in the city's Magistrates Court on Monday.
Sergeant Nzima Philemon Adoons was arrested over the weekend for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of 19-year-old Kamogelo Baukudi, who is a learner at the Martie du Plessis special school.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mojalefa Senokoatsane, says Sergeant Adoons is facing serious charges, including extortion.
It was revealed in court that the suspect had made calls to the victim’s mother asking for a ransom.
Senokoatsane says the officer will remain in custody until his next court appearance on Friday, when he is expected to get legal counsel and apply for bail.
Adoons' arrest follows a police investigation that linked him to a police vehicle that was reportedly used in the abduction.
Baukudi was last seen on Thursday, 5 June 2025, when he was allegedly taken by two unknown men dressed in police uniforms. His whereabouts remain unknown.
Meanwhile, police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele says they have prioritised his safe return as a matter of utmost urgency.
He says they are committed to uncovering the truth behind this heinous crime.
The investigation is ongoing.
