The man disappeared on Friday, January 24, and after an unsuccessful search the victim’s brother approached the police for help.
According to police spokesperson, Capt Piet Rossouw, the victim’s brother arrived at the Vosloorus police station on Monday, January 27, and opened a case of kidnapping.
He told police that his brother went missing on Friday, after he had gone to meet one of their countrymen at a nearby wholesaler, regarding a business venture.
Apparently, the abductor tricked the victim into travelling with him from the wholesaler to Tsakane, by taxi, and there he was held hostage.
The kidnappers contacted the victim’s brother with a demand of R50 000 to set the man free, and told him that his brother would die if they did not get the money.
Immediately after the case was opened, police officers, WO Mokapu Maedi and Det-Const Lesiba Kekana started to work around the clock to find the victim.
The kidnappers asked for the money to be deposit at the money transfer service at a shopping centre, which enables customers to send and receive money without the need for a bank account.
The transactions and cellphone conversation helped the officers to trace the kidnappers and the victim.
“Our officers also knew that to withdraw the money, the kidnappers needed to provide an ID, and officers also used this to trace the kidnappers. They also realised that, to collect the ransom, the kidnappers would have to make 10 withdrawals, as there is a daily limit of R5 000 on the service,” explains Rossouw.
On the day the police received the case, the account was flagged.
Police discovered that a first R5 000 deposit and withdrawal had already been made on the Saturday at Tsakane Mall.
Hours after the account was flagged, someone made a withdrawal on the account at Carnival Mall. Using the ID number on the withdrawal slip, the detectives traced the transaction to a cleaner who worked at the mall.
He told the police that he had been asked by someone to make the withdrawal on his behalf.
Officers did not arrest him, because they wanted to use him as a witness, and he agreed to help police with the investigation.
“On Tuesday, another deposit was made at Lakeside Mall, and security guards at the store arrested a 37-year-old man for trying to withdraw from the flagged account, leading to the release of the victim.”
He led the police to a house in Tsakane, where the victim was held hostage.
When police arrived at the premises, they found the victim in the garage of the house, unharmed, but his legs and arms chained. He was restored to his brother.
Police also arrested the owner of the house, a 50-year-old man.
Both suspects have appeared in the Vosloorus Magistrate’s Court on charges of kidnapping. They were remanded in custody, and they will appear again on Friday, this week.
Rossouw says the suspects told the police that they are not alone in the mission. They accused a Bangladeshi of masterminding the kidnapping.
A hunt is now on to find the Bangladeshi suspected of masterminding the kidnapping.
