Beacon Bay extortion suspect in court
About 30 homeowners woke up to find stapled envelopes wrapped in danger tape in their driveways last week, demanding money
An East London man allegedly behind an extortion frenzy that rocked the Beacon Bay area will spend the weekend in custody.
About 30 homeowners woke up to find stapled envelopes wrapped in danger tape in their driveways last week, demanding money or threatening danger.
Clyde Zehmke, 48, appeared briefly in the city’s magistrate’s court on Friday, where his case was postponed for a bail hearing after his arrest on Wednesday morning.
He will apply for bail on Monday.
The state said Zehmke was facing a charge of extortion, amounting to R22,000, with more charges expected to be added.
His bail is being opposed. Prosecutor Ntsikelelo Ntlekeni said they opposed bail on the basis that Zehmke was a flight risk and the complainant was known to him.
Zehmke is represented by attorney Cinga Ndlwana.
Two relatives sat in the dock during the accused’s brief appearance before magistrate Luyanda Gobingca.
The Dispatch reported on Thursday that inside each envelope was a rock and a printed letter demanding R22,000 or threatening danger.
The letter demanded that R22,000 be dropped off at a certain time and placed inside a demarcated bin behind an electrical transformer on the corner of Clearview Crescent and Lagoon View Drive in eight days.
It read: “CONFIDENTIAL, You must NOT disclose, distribute or duplicate any content. You and your family are in danger and immediate action is required.
“You WILL PAY a once-off amount of R22,000 cash within 8 days of receiving this instruction. Payment is required to ‘CLEAR’ you and your family from being ‘HARMED IN ANY WAY’.
“It will be absolutely necessary to carry out this instruction SUCCESSFULLY. Write on the back of this page CLEARED and your street address.
“This instruction with the cash amount must be delivered to the location and placed in the bin behind the transformer thereafter you and your family WILL BE REMOVED FROM BEING IN DANGER AND HARMED IN ANY WAY.
“Never report this to anyone else or you and your family will have negative consequences!!! This is serious!!”