Two accused appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court yesterday (June 2) for a formal bail application, reports Lowvelder.

They are charged with kidnapping and attempted extortion relating to the abduction of a Mbombela businessman on April 14.

The court heard allegations that the accused were assaulted and threatened by police officers shortly after their arrest on May 26.

“Accused number one injured his leg after police officers lifted him and dropped him onto his knees,” the defence told the court.

In light of the allegations, the defence requested that, for their safety, the accused be transported directly to prison rather than being taken to the police station.

The state disputed the allegations and argued that they amounted to hearsay.

 According to the state, accused number one injured his leg before his arrest as a result of a previous operation.

The defence further requested access to documents in the state’s possession, including financial records, vehicle tracking information and any property seized from the accused.

The state argued that not all documents could be disclosed while the investigation was ongoing, adding that some evidence was intended for trial proceedings rather than the bail application.

The state told the court that the businessman’s whereabouts remain unknown, and that certain information could not be disclosed in order to protect the victim’s family.

According to reports, the abduction unfolded while the man was returning home to Shandon Estate with his daughter. His vehicle was allegedly forced to stop after a collision on Von Braun Street, when armed suspects forced him from his vehicle into theirs and fled the scene with him. The man’s daughter was reportedly left physically unharmed.

Although the victim’s identity is known to Lowvelder, the publication has chosen not to publish it for legal and ethical reasons. The identities of the accused have also been withheld.

In terms of South African Criminal Justice System, the media may not publish the identities of accused persons facing extortion-related charges before they have pleaded in court.

The matter was postponed to June 9 to allow the state to provide portions of the docket to the defence ahead of the formal bail application.

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