4 accused in Westville mum’s kidnapping face 6 charges in camera (closed court with press and public excluded)

FOUR people arrested in connection with the abduction of Westville resident, Sandra Munsamy, made their first appearance in the Durban Regional Court U before Magistrate Anand Maharaj.

According to Gert Nel, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions for KZN National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) the state in this matter was represented by Kuveshini Pillay.

“The state successfully brought an application in terms of Section 153 and 154 of the CPA hence the proceedings were held in camera and there is a court order prohibiting the publication of the names and or personal information of any of the accused persons until such time as the court decides otherwise,” said Nel.

Nel said of the four accused, accused one had private representation while the other three have applied for legal representation.

He added that the second accused was also seeking private representation while accused three and four have applied for legal aid.

Nel said that the following changes have been preferred:

1. Kidnapping
2. Attempted murder,
3. Attempted murder,
4. Robbery with aggravating circumstances,
5. Extortion and
6. Entering and remaining in the Republic without a valid permit.

According to the charge sheet, the two counts of attempted murder related to two security officers, Neliswe Nxumalo and Andlie Mxolisi, who were shot at on May 30 during the kidnapping.

ALSO READ: Reunited: Westville family overjoyed at rescue of missing mother

Munsamy, daughter of  Poonsamy and Lutchmee Naicker, owners of logistics company, Crossmoor Transport was recently rescued after having been found chained in a house in Mpumalanga on Thursday evening (7 November).

Hawks statement

“A prominent Pinetown based businesswoman was rescued alive in Witbank on Thursday evening after she was kidnapped for about one hundred and sixty-two days (162),” confirmed the national communications officer for The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, better known as the Hawks, which spearheaded the investigation into Munsamy’s disappearance on 31 May this year.

“The woman was kidnapped in Pinetown on 30 May 2019.  A few days after, her family received calls for ransom set at R140 million and the matter was reported to the Hawks for investigation,” said Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.

“An intensive investigation by the Hawks task team ultimately traced and located four suspects, two were arrested in Johannesburg. Further investigations by the team led to the arrest of two additional suspects in Emalahleni (Witbank).”

“The 45-year-old victim was found bound in chains at a house in Emalahleni and was subsequently rescued by an integrated team of the Hawks assisted by Crime Intelligence, Gauteng Provincial Organised crime members and Ekurhuleni metro police,” said Mulaudzi over the weekend. “Three luxury vehicles worth R3 million and a firearm have since been seized for further investigation.”

Mulaudzi said the four accused who have not been named, were aged between 30 and 34.

According to Nel, the case has been adjourned until 18 November while legal representation for accused number 2, 3 and 4 is secured.

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