38 years for baby kidnappers
They were each sentenced, on February 12, to 15 years imprisonment for kidnapping, 10 years for extortion, eight years for assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm and five years for robbery.
The family of a baby who was snatched from his home welcomed the sentencing of his kidnappers in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.
Khalid Ayub and Khadija Khan were found guilty on October 23 of kidnapping Revelation Jones from his home in Bez Valley and beating the nanny in January last year.
Revelation’s father, Mr Ifeanyi Jones, returned home from work on January 8 to find his children’s nanny, Ms Veronique Ndomba, lying in a pool of blood. She had been beaten and strangled and Revelation, who was six months old at the time, was missing.
Mr Jones contacted his wife, Ms Khanyisile Mnisi, and told her the nanny had been beaten to such an extent that she was barely recognisable.
Revelation’s sister, Oluchi, who was six years old at the time, was at home when the incident happened. She said she was told to hide behind a couch. The couple then apparently pushed Oluchi into one of the rooms.
Ms Ndomba was taken to hospital.
Police investigations determined that the couple, Mr Jones’ tenants, beat the nanny and kidnapped Revelation.
The kidnappers demanded a ransom, however police officers traced and arrested them in Fordsburg on January 10. Revelation was found.
At the time of the arrest, Khan was believed to be pregnant with her fourth child. She was granted bail but Ayub was kept behind bars.
They were each sentenced, on February 12, to 15 years imprisonment for kidnapping, 10 years for extortion, eight years for assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm and five years for robbery.
“I am relieved the case is over, that these people were found guilty and are going to spend a long time in jail. This case was taking too long to end. Now we can move on,” said Ms Mnisi.
She said Revelation is trying to talk and is growing quickly. “The family is doing well and I am happy we can finally put all this behind us,” she said.
The investigating officer, who did not want his name published, said he invested a lot of time in the case and is glad his work paid off in the end.
