Foreign national to appear in court for alleged attempt to join Russia-Ukraine war

Detailed summary

A 38-year-old foreign national is expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on Thursday for allegedly attempting to leave South Africa to join the Russia-Ukraine…

A 38-year-old foreign national is expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court on Thursday for allegedly attempting to leave South Africa to join the Russia-Ukraine war.

The suspect faces charges under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act 15 of 1998, following his arrest on Wednesday night at OR Tambo International Airport.

He was arrested by an integrated multidisciplinary investigation team comprising INTERPOL Pretoria NCB, the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State and Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit based in Germiston, international law enforcement agencies, South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence, the Modus Operandi Centre, the Gauteng Provincial Tracking Team and various security companies.

“Acting on intelligence gathered during the investigation, the multidisciplinary team operationalised an intervention that resulted in the arrest. The suspect was allegedly en route to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war,” the Hawks said in a statement.

Earlier this week, nine foreign nationals were arrested in connection with a similar alleged attempt to leave South Africa to join the Russia-Ukraine war.

The suspects, aged between 20 and 26, were apprehended on Sunday night at OR Tambo International Airport and at a hotel in Bruma.

At the time of their arrest, the nine were allegedly preparing to board flights out of the country when police moved in. – SAnews.gov.za

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