UPDATE: Investigation into escaped kidnapper

The Department of Health is investigating an escape after a Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital patient and alleged kidnapper, Ray Pahlo, escaped while being treated at Kalafong Hospital, the department said on Wednesday afternoon.

“We are still trying to determine how he escaped. He is just a mental patient and is not dangerous,” said spokesperson Simon Zwane.

Local and provincial police could not provide information regarding the escape. After numerous attempts, police told Rekord that they cannot confirm the investigation of the case.

Pahlo has been in custody since 2012 after was arrested for kidnapping his biological daughter Pura Pahlo, who was 7-years-old at the time, outside the Waterkloof Primary School. According to Pura’s foster father, Evangelos Andreou, Pahlo claimed to be ill when he was taken to hospital.

“As far as I understand, Pahlo was in Weskoppies for observation and claimed to be sick or injured. He was then taken to Kalafong Hospital where he managed to escape. Police are still investigating what exactly happened,” said Andreou.

In 2012, Pura was in the car with her foster mother Kim Andreou when they stopped in front of the school. Four men, dressed as police officers, approached the car and told the woman she was being arrested for kidnapping. Pahlo then opened the passenger door and grabbed Pura before he fled.

Police arrested four Zimbabwean nationals in connection with the kidnapping. Pahlo was arrested in Mpumalanga when he was trying to check into a guest house. He was with Pura and a white woman with an American accent.

“We are very concerned that he might try to kidnap her again. She knows about his escape and is distressed about it. We are trying to keep things as normal as possible and we hope that the police manage to find him,” said Andreou.

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