Local PI shares grim findings in Siam Lee case

LOCAL private investigator, Brad Nathanson, has divulged information that lead to the arrest of an Assagay resident who is believed to be linked to the Siam Lee murder investigation.

The Assagay resident, who was arrested for the disappearance of Lee, appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 22 January. The 29-year-old biochemist was charged with kidnapping, murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm, defeating the ends of justice, rape and kidnapping.

“Outstanding cases and brand new cases filed through a line-up at a police station yesterday (22 January) played a part in the nine additional cases brought against the suspect. With the Siam Lee investigation, he now faces charges in 10 cases in total,” said Nathanson.

Nathanson said he was overwhelmed with the number of calls from businessmen who invested in the suspect’s biofuel company but never received anything from him. They said they have been struggling to get in contact with him for a while now.

The 20-year-old Lee’s burnt body was allegedly discovered near a farm in New Hanover in the KZN Midlands more than a week ago. She had been missing since 4 January and was last seen leaving her workplace on Margaret Maytom Drive in Durban North.

ALSO READ: Police search for missing Durban North woman

Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, spokesperson for KZN SAPS said a Mercedes Benz Vito and an unlicensed firearm were seized at his house in Assagay. According to Nathanson, the suspect also had more than 50 boxes of different sexual enhancers at his house.

Nathanson, who facilitated the arrest on Wednesday, 17 January said his office directed the SAPS to where they recovered and seized the black Mercedes Vito that was allegedly used in Siam Lee’s abduction. They detained and arrested the man before the police arrived.

Nathanson was present in court on Monday morning, described the man a serial rapist and serial fraudster. He said he often stumbled upon sociopaths and psychopaths in his career but never one person who embodied the same traits.

ALSO READ: Hillcrest man (29) arrested in Siam Lee’s murder case

The link that led to the arrest
Nathanson said a black Mercedes Benz Vito [that of the same description of the vehicle used in Lee’s abduction] was involved in a hit-and-run accident on Margaret Maytom Drive, minutes after Lee disappeared that same day. “If we had not known about this accident, we may have never found out the suspect’s whereabouts so quickly.”

He assumed that Lee could have tried to fight back which caused the accident, but believed the suspect was frightened and just drove off onto the M4.

Key witnesses
Nathanson said that two reliable witnesses identified the suspect in an ID parade at the police station on Sunday. One of the witnesses is from the Siam Lee abduction case and the other is a woman who worked for a massage parlor in Northdene. She contacted Brad Nathanson Investigations in 2016 with claims that she was picked up by a client and taken to a house in Assagay where she was raped all day and dumped back in Northdene later that evening.

“I accompanied her to the address she had given us, but she had cold feet and never laid a charge. When we made a link to the black Mercedes Vito and got his street address, I knew exactly the type of guy we were dealing with,” said Nathanson.

Colonel Mbhele said they were still waiting for DNA results to conclusively identify the body, as well as DNA samples taken from the suspect’s vehicle and house.

“I believe Siam died for a greater good, to expose this man for the evil he is. I volunteered to take up this case on my own and it took me six days from the date we discovered that a burnt body was found in New Hanover, to make the arrest. There’s a lot that can be said about the role she played in society. Everything that goes on in the dark eventually comes out in the light, At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if a person sells drugs, is involved in prostitution or hangs from chandeliers, a life is a life, no one has the right to take away a life,” said Nathanson.

Appeal
Nathanson urged the community to please contact him directly if there are any persons who can provide more information about the suspect and his dealings. Contact Brad on 083 250 2007 or e-mail brad@bradnathanson.co.za

ALSO READ: WATCH: Local investigator sheds light on arrest in Siam Lee case

The case was remanded and the suspect remains in police custody until Friday, 2 February.