A CRIMINAL case against Salim Ismail (54), who was arrested after allegedly robbing a 66-year-old Isipingo woman on February 6, 2025, whom he had met on an online dating platform, has been withdrawn after she accepted financial compensation.

Also read: Man arrested for date’s Sassa grant theft

The female complainant, who will not be named, had withdrawn cash in Galleria Mall after meeting Ismail for their first date. From Galleria Mall, the pair travelled to Hazelmere Dam, where they spent time. The complainant told Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) that they later stopped at a service station where she exited the vehicle to use the ablution facilities while Ismail allegedly informed her that he was going to park the vehicle. Instead, he allegedly sped off with her handbag containing almost R2000 in cash, her cellphone, and other items. The handbag was later recovered near Sibaya Casino.

Ismail was later tracked down and arrested at his mother’s house in Chatsworth a few days later and was granted bail after a court appearance. When he was arrested, he allegedly admitted to using the stolen money to buy oil for his car and gambling away the rest at the casino.

Also read: Man accused of stealing from his Isipingo date gets bail

Before the commencement of court proceedings on July 31, the complainant accepted R4000 from Ismail through an alternative dispute resolution process. The investigating officer duly processed the withdrawal of the criminal case, resulting in the trial not proceeding.

For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.

Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.