‘Police doing all in their power’ as kidnappers still at large
“The police are still investigating a case of kidnapping of Pick n pay store owner. They are doing all in their power to rid Bronkhortspruit of serious and violent crimes.”
Police say they are doing all the their power to find the kidnapped east businessman.
Bronkhorstspruit police spokesperson Constable Munyadziwa Ramovha said Juca Leonardo (55), owner of a Pick n Pay outlet, was kidnapped on Thursday, April 13.
Ramovha said police were still searching for the crucial leads that would assist in locating Leonardo.
“The police are still investigating a case of kidnapping of Pick n Pay store owner. They are doing all in their power to rid Bronkhortspruit of serious and violent crimes.”
Ramovha said police had no leads as yet and were still busy with the investigation.
Police confirmed that Leonardo’s car, believed to be a Mercedes Benz G Wagon, was found in Versterpark on the R568 road with bullet holes in the windscreen on April 14.
Leonardo was last seen wearing dark blue denim jeans and a blue Polo shirt with his name and Pick n Pay logo on.
Private investigator Mike Bolhuis said there was a unit of senior police and private investigators working on the Leornardo case.
Bolhuis said his team was investigating several other kidnapping cases in a bid to assist with the Leornardo investigation.
“We have had two kidnappings recently. The crimes have been going on for some time and affluent people seem to be targeted.”
He said in Bronkhorstspruit there was a large number of business robberies and kidnappings.
“They have identified the area very well and businessmen have been recently kidnapped.”
He said the kidnapping of Leornardo was well-oiled and the suspects were possibly heavily armed.
Bolhuis said the vehicle was seemingly not found on the scene of the abduction, however it was believed Leornardo had not been extensively injured as there was no blood in it.
“We have seven special investigators on this case.”
At the start of the investigation, Bolhuis said the family was taking the matter “extremely hard” as Leornardo is a husband and father.
He pleaded with the public to refrain from sharing unverified information on the case.
“We plead with those with the slightest information to contact us or the police.”
The police have requested anyone with information about this incident to please contact Sergeant Kube on 072 697 7851 or SAPS Bronkhorstspruit on 013 932 9222.
Alternatively, tip-offs can be reported via MySaps app, which can be downloaded to any smartphone.
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