WATCH: Durban woman who faked kidnapping gets bail

A 47-year-old Durban woman who allegedly faked her own kidnapping and demanded a R2m ransom from her husband has been released on R3 000 bail.

Firoza Bee Bee Joseph made a brief appearance in the Durban Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

In a video, Joseph can be seen pleading for her husband to get the money so that she can be rescued before bursting into tears and telling the person filming that her husband does not have R2m.

A noise sounding like a gunshot could also be heard in the background and the so-called kidnapper telling her to continue with the ransom demand.

Watch the video of the fake kidnapping

Charges

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Kara said Joseph, from Phoenix in Durban, is charged with defeating the ends of justice.

“The matter was adjourned to 7 June 2023, for further investigation. She was released on bail.”

ALSO READ: Phoenix woman arrested after faking kidnapping

Arrest

Joseph was handcuffed on Tuesday after police investigations proved her version of events was not entirely accurate.

According to the incident report, an amount of R2 million was initially demanded for her safe release, which was later reduced to R400 000.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said officers received a complaint of a woman who was allegedly kidnapped on Clayfield Drive in Phoenix on Monday.

Fake kidnapping

Netshiunda said the woman left her husband’s business premises to use a restroom at her home, which is situated a short distance from the establishment.

“Few moments later, her husband received a phone call from her, reporting that she was kidnapped and pleaded with him to deposit an undisclosed amount of money for her release. A short while later, the husband received another call from a man who threatened to hurt the woman if the money was not paid.”

Netshiunda said police investigations revealed that the woman had faked her kidnapping.

He warned people not to joke about kidnapping.

“Kidnapping is not a matter to joke about and police have been working hard and stretching resources in a quest to prevent kidnappings, which had seen a slight increase of late,” Netshiunda said.

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