7 denied bail for allegedly kidnapping minor in Mpumalanga
A child who was abducted from school was rescued by law enforcement officers after her mother paid a ransom.
Seven suspects, two women and five men, appeared in the Kriel Magistrate’s Court on Thursday facing charges of kidnapping a minor from a high school in Kriel on Monday.
They were denied bail.
“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,” says Mpumalanga Hawks’ spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi.
She called a pupil and asked her to call the victim to inform her that her mother was ill. The victim came and was told that they were sent to fetch her, he adds.
“The girl got inside the vehicle and they drove away. They started making calls, demanding a ransom of R200 000.”
Sekgotodi says the child’s mother, who is a businesswoman, told them that she did not have the amount they demanded, but had R9 000.
She was given three bank accounts to deposit the money into via cash send. The money was withdrawn by the suspects.
The matter was reported to police, including the Hawks and patrol units, and a suicide and hostage negotiator responded swiftly.
“The suspects’ vehicle was discovered in the vicinity where they had withdrawn the money. Investigations led the team to Vosloosrus in Gauteng where four 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 another three suspects, a woman and two men, were also arrested and detained.”
The case was postponed to Monday for legal aid and private lawyers’ appointments.
The investigation continues.
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