Eight police officers have appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates Court, on charges of robbery, extortion and defeating the ends of justice. The officers, attached to the Public Order Unit, were arrested in connection with the extortion incident at two Chinese shops in Milnerton.
A ninth suspect, a former police officer, was added as an additional suspect on Wednesday.
Media applications to cover court proceedings were rejected at this stage because there is outstanding police identification parade.
The National Prosecuting Authority is opposing bail.
"They have been arrested on charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, extortion, use of a vehicle without permission from the owner and defeating the administration of justice. The case has been postponed to the 22nd of October for a bail information as well as the formal bail application for all of them at first. We had this eight appear and then we have just added the ninth now," says Eric Ntabazalila, NPA spokesperson.
