The seven accused of kidnapping a schoolgirl in Kriel have been remanded in custody after their second appearance in the Kriel Magistrate’s Court on Monday July 29.

The Mpumalanga Hawks’ spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, said the case was postponed to Friday August 2 for the appointment of private attorneys for three of the accused. “The other four opted to be assisted by the State. All of them are kept in custody. The investigation continues,” she said.

Seven suspects denied bail for allegedly kidnapping minor in Mpumalanga – July 26

Seven suspects, two women and five men, appeared in the Kriel Magistrate’s Court on Thursday July 25, facing charges of kidnapping a minor from a high school in Kriel on Monday July 22.

The Mpumalanga Hawks’ spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, said: “It is alleged that on the day in question [Monday], four suspects – a woman and three men – visited a high school in Kriel. On arrival, the female suspect entered the school while her accomplices remained in the vehicle.

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She called a pupil and asked her to go call the victim to inform her that her mother was ill. The victim came running and was told that they were sent to fetch her.

The girl got inside the vehicle and they drove away. They started making some calls demanding a ransom of R200 000.”

Sekgotodi said the mother of the child, who is a businesswoman, told them that she did not have the ransom they demanded but only had R9 000.

She was then given three bank accounts to deposit the money into through cash send, which was withdrawn by the suspects.

The matter was reported to the police, including the Hawks and patrol units, and the suicide and hostage negotiator responded swiftly.

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“The suspects’ vehicle was discovered in the vicinity where they had withdrawn the money. Investigations led the team to Vosloosrus in Gauteng where four of the suspects were arrested. The victim, who was unharmed, was rescued and the ransom money was recovered.

Further investigations led the team back to Kriel where other three suspects, a woman and two men, were also arrested and detained.”

The case was postponed to Monday July 29 for legal aid and private lawyers’ appointment while the investigation continues.