Unrelenting efforts to fight the crime of extortion in the Western Cape are paying dividends with the rescue of a kidnapping victim in Khayelitsha and the arrest of two suspects. The two suspects aged 35 and 31 are expected to appear in the Strand Magistrate’s court on Monday, 28 June 2021 after their arrest on Thursday evening, 24 June 2021, in Makhaza, Khayelitsha on charges of kidnapping and extortion.
The arrest of the two suspects follows the kidnapping of a Chinese national, who owns a business in Strand on Monday, 21 June 2021 after 19:00 . Reports at the disposal of police indicate the victim was accosted by two armed men in Strand while he was approaching his vehicle. He was forced into the suspects’ vehicle. The suspects are alleged to have later demanded a substantial amount of cash as ransom in exchange for the release of the victim.
Provincial organised crime detectives as part of their investigations into the case followed crucial information on the whereabouts of the kidnapping victim. An integrated team comprising the National Intervention Unit, Special Task Force, Crime Intelligence and detectives later descended on a shack in Makhaza, Khayelitsha on Thursday afternoon where they rescued the victim. He had sustained serious burn and assault wounds after he was tortured by his kidnappers. The victim, aged 47, is currently in hospital.
The two suspects from Lwandle and Khayelitsha were subsequently arrested after being linked to the crime. They face assault GBH, kidnapping and extortion charges. As the investigations unfold, more charges could be added.
The efforts of the integrated team are commended as the fight against scourge of extortion in the Western Cape intensifies.