Cape Town cop arrested for extortion

A police detective has been arrested for corruption after allegedly extorting money from a member of the public.

The 40-year-old cop from the Athlone police station was arrested by undercover officers on Thursday for charging a made-up fee to collect impounded vehicles.

'He allegedly told the complainant that his Opel Corsa sedan, which was impounded at Stikland, will only be released if he pays him a certain cash amount,' Warrant Officer November Filander said.

'He was detained at the Athlone police station and appeared in the Athlone Magistrate's Court on a charge of corruption and extortion.

'He was released on R500 bail and the case was postponed for further investigation until 18 January 2012.'