A 38-year-old suspect is expected to appear in the Gqeberha New Law Court on May 20, on kidnapping charges after he was arrested on May 16 by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team, working with Provincial Crime Intelligence and Local Criminal Record Centre. The suspect allegedly kidnapped a 31-year-old foreign national from his business in North End, Gqeberha, on April 5, demanding a ransom.
According to Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, his appearance came after he was arrested on May 16.
“On April 5, it is alleged that foreign national was at his business at North End in Gqeberha where he was accosted by unidentified suspects and was forced into an Opel Mokka,” said Mhlakuvana.
“During this time, the victim was reportedly alone inside the business and was pointed with a firearm, then forcefully taken to unknown places by the kidnappers.”
Mhlakuvana added that further allegations revealed that the suspects used the victim’s cell phone and called his mother demanding a ransom.
“The victim was reportedly kept by the suspects for few days and was found six days after the incident in Kariega in the middle of the night,” said Mhlakuvana.
“Further reports exposed that a few days later during the ransom drop-off, a Toyota Fortuner and Audi were identified as the vehicles that were suspected to have been involved in the said kidnapping.”
Mhlakuvana said that preliminary investigation established that the victim was allegedly transported to three different addresses in Gqeberha by the same Audi.
Furthermore on April 11, the joint team traced the vehicles and found a Toyota Fortuner at a carwash in Gqeberha and it was seized. Two days later, information was received about the whereabouts of the Audi which was found at Colchester and seized as well.”
Mhlakuvana said that both vehicles were seized for further investigation.
“An intelligence driven investigation by the joint team revealed that the victim was kept in three different addresses in Gqeberha,” said Mhlakuvana
“Investigations led to the arrest of the suspect at one of the addresses. More arrests are imminent as intensive investigations are underway.”
The suspect will make his first court appearance at Gqeberha New Law court on May 20 on charges of kidnapping.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya appreciated the efforts by the joint the team for making sure that the suspect faces the enormous arm of the law while awaiting the apprehension of the additional accused.
