Kidnapping charges laid on two suspects
Two suspects believed to be Ethiopian nationals were apprehended in Norwood for kidnapping fellow nationals.
Intensive investigations led Limpopo police to Norwood as they arrested two suspects for kidnapping. In a statement issued from the office of the provincial commissioner Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe by Colonel Malesela Ledwaba the two suspects believed to be Ethiopian nationals were arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a 20-year-old fellow national. The victim was allegedly kidnapped in the Giyani Policing precinct on September 9.
The duo aged 20 and 22 were apprehended in the morning of September 14 at Norwood in Gauteng during a sting operation that was executed by the Limpopo Provincial Organised Crime Unit, Giyani Crime Intelligence Unit and National Special Task Force Unit.
“It is reported that on September 9, a 20-year-old man was kidnapped allegedly by his fellow countrymen who later demanded a ransom amounting to R80 000 from his relatives. The matter was immediately reported to the local police who opened a kidnapping case and commenced with the investigations,” stated Ledwaba.
The colonel said intensive investigations led the police to Norwood and they followed up on information about suspects at a particular location. The premise was penetrated by the members of the Special Task Force who found a 20-year-old male locked inside a single room with eight other males.
Furthermore, police found two men who were allegedly feeding and guarding the victims and were immediately placed under arrest at the scene.
Ledwaba said during the arrest, seven cellphones were seized and upon further investigations, it was discovered that other victims who are believed to be Ethiopian nationals aged between 20 and 23 were also kidnapped but they could not provide more information about their presence at the locations because they were also in the country illegally.
One of the victims who was also allegedly kidnapped for more than three months was later admitted at a local hospital for medical treatment due to sickness.
The colonel further stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the other eight victims were kidnapped for a period of 10 to 15 days and the ransom was never paid to the kidnappers before being rescued by the police.
The two suspects are expected to appear before the Giyani Magistrate’s Court on September 18 facing charges of kidnapping.
Afterwards, the duo will proceed to Gauteng province to appear in court facing nine charges of human trafficking.
Colonel Ledwaba said police investigations are continuing.
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