In October, the Douglasdale police were called in after the man’s wife reported he had been kidnapped. After a day of searching, on 15 October Douglasdale detectives traced the man back to his home in Northriding and barged in to find him fast asleep in his own bed.The man confessed to lying about being kidnapped in order to extract money from his family to pay off gambling debts. The man also admitted to having a gambling addiction.
According to Warrant Officer Balan Muthan, head of communications for the Douglasdale police, on 11 November charges of theft and fraud were filed against the man, whose name is known to the Fourways Review but cannot be named due to his involvement in an ongoing case. Muthan said the man had used his company’s vehicle as surety to take a loan. When the man failed to pay back the loan to the loan sharks, they arrived at his company to re-possess the vehicle. Muthan said a representative from the company opened a case of theft and fraud against the man at the Douglasdale Police Station.
“There are institutions that people who have gambling problems can visit to seek help,” he said. “When this man faked his kidnapping, the state did not file charges, however he is now facing the consequences of his actions due to his gambling addiction.”
Details: www.responsiblegambling.co.za
Man fakes kidnapping to pay off debts
