Cop and prosecutor get bail in R1.6 million extortion case

The Citizen

2 days ago

The Pretoria court granted bail to a prosecutor and police officer accused of extorting R1.6 million from a businessman.
A police constable and suspended prosecutor are out on bail after allegedly extorting R1.6 million from a detained businessman in exchange for his release.
The Pretoria Magistrate's Court granted bail of R5 000 each to Advocate Avinash Ramapararat (45) and Constable Abdul Haig Shaik (37) on Wednesday on charges of extortion.
Ramapararat is a suspended prosecutor who was based at the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit (SCCU). Shaik is a police officer stationed at Wierdabrug Police Station.
Extorting R1.6 million from detained businessman
Shaik is accused of contacting a businessman in February 2024 and asking him to come to the Wierdabrug Police Station in relation to a theft and fraud case that Agynt Commodities had opened.
The case related to a coal transaction between the two companies in 2023.
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Shaik detained the businessman upon arrival and put him in a holding cell.
'While in custody, the two accused allegedly demanded a payment of R1.6 million in exchange for the businessman's release,' National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said.
'The complainant paid the money and was later released.'
Incident reported to Hawks
Mahanjana said that after following up on the case at the police station many months later, the complainant was told that the case number he had been issued had nothing to do with his issue.
The businessman then reported the incident to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), which led to the arrest of both accused on 25 July 2025.
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The state did not object to bail when the accused applied for it because they had cooperated with the investigation, were not considered flight risks, and had verified their residential addresses.
In addition to the current matter, the pair also faces separate charges of extortion and corruption in a case before the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court.
Cases postponed to October
The Pretoria Magistrate's Court postponed the matter to 24 October 2025 for the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision, while the separate matter will return to court on 27 October 2025 for disclosure.
'The NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to combating corruption, including within its ranks. Advocate Ramapararat was placed on suspension pending finalisation of internal disciplinary processes,' Mahanjana said.