Durban — A 27-year-old man alleged to have kidnapped a woman, 21, threatening to kill her if her grandmother’s brother-in-law did not unfreeze his bank account and transfer his Road Accident Fund money to him and his accomplices, appeared in the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
It’s alleged that the woman was abducted in September last year, while at home with her grandmother. She was held captive for nine days.
Sanele Chopani from KwaMakhutha was arrested at the house where the woman was being kept.
He appeared in court on Wednesday where his trial was postponed provisionally to October.
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation members, also known as the Hawks, were led to Chopani by Ntuthuko Gumede, who is currently at large. This came after another accomplice, a bank employee, had shown police where to find Gumede.
The bank employee was arrested during the kidnapping investigation when it was found that he had transferred the RAF beneficiary’s money from his savings account to other accounts. This was before the beneficiary’s account was frozen.
At the time of his arrest, the bank employee revealed that he had been approached by Gumede, who lives in his area, to uplift the sanction on the beneficiary’s bank account. He showed police where to find Gumede.
Four months before the kidnapping, the beneficiary’s wife had him freeze his account after armed suspects came to their home and threatened to kill him unless he gave them money.
He was taken to Galleria Mall where the accused transferred money into unknown accounts from his and then dropped him off back at home.
The couple reported the case to the Verulam SAPS. This was the second time that the man had been extorted, previously he was taken and forced to withdraw money.
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Daily News