Two men, aged 34 and 39, are appearing at the Durban Magistrate’s Court facing charges of kidnapping and extortion following their arrest on Sunday night.
The duo stands accused of kidnapping a 24-year-old Indian national who was taken from a parking lot in the Durban CBD. According to provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbele, the team was informed that the suspects were communicating with the victim’s brother, demanding a ransom. Col Mbele said the money was arranged and the meeting point was given to the victim’s brother on South Coast Road in Clairwood. An operation was conducted following the leads but subsequently the meeting point was changed to Wiggins Road in Mobeni.
“The team tactically proceeded to the meeting point where the ransom was given to the suspect by the victim’s brother. The suspects then drove away in an alleged Uber vehicle. The victim was dropped off and a chase after the said vehicle ensued. The vehicle was stopped by the team at Wiggins Road and intercepted. Two occupants of the vehicle, one of which was a foreign national, were arrested with the cash,” Col Mbele said. She added that the investigation continued to the suspect’s place of residence where a 9mm pistol, 15 rounds of ammunition and the suspect’s cellular phones were found and seized. “The tracing of other outstanding suspects is continuing,” she said.
