South African police arrest 10th recruitment suspect
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Mail & Guardian
South African police arrested a 10th suspect on 11 November in a case involving the alleged recruitment of foreign nationals to fight in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The suspect is to be prosecuted under South Africa’s foreign military assistance law, according to police.
South African police arrested a 10th suspect on Wednesday evening, 11 November, in an investigation into an alleged attempt to recruit foreign nationals to participate in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The 38-year-old suspect was arrested during an intelligence-led operation conducted by the Hawks, South Africa’s priority crime investigation unit, with other law enforcement agencies, Mail & Guardian reports. He could be prosecuted under South Africa’s 1998 Foreign Military Assistance Act.
The suspect allegedly intended to travel from South Africa to participate in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. His identity and nationality have not been disclosed. The arrest follows that of nine Zimbabwean nationals on 8 November at OR Tambo International Airport and at a hotel in Johannesburg, four of whom were due to appear on Thursday 12 November before the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court. Proceedings involving the other five accused, who are being held in Kempton Park, have been postponed until 17 November, according to Mail & Guardian.
The investigation involves the Hawks, South Africa’s criminal police and Interpol Pretoria. Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the investigation seeks to establish the scale of the alleged recruitment and determine who facilitated the planned departures.
The arrest of the 10th suspect follows that of the nine Zimbabwean nationals arrested on 8 November in the same case, already reported on 9 November by the nine foreigners arrested in Johannesburg.
