Amy’Leigh de Jager’s family explains initial confusion over number of suspects
The family said they were satisfied that the South African Police Service did a thorough investigation.
Family of Amy’Leigh de Jager blamed confusion about the initial number of kidnappers involved in the snatching of the six-year-old girl on “absolute chaos, confusion and panic,” Rekord Centurion reports
This as they took to the Amy’ Leigh missing kids Facebook page on Wednesday to explain about the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping, following the police’s announcement of the final suspect arrested on Monday.
“As we previously stated nobody is hiding or covering up anything,” the family said.
“The only person the mommy saw was the one that grabbed little Amy’ Leigh from her arms. It was chaos as I think anybody can imagine. She was holding onto her little girl with everything in her, and I am sure you can all understand that she did not have time to look around and count how many people were [involved].”
“It was chaos and everybody panicked so it is not strange that the number of people reported and the actual number differ. It was reported amid absolute chaos, confusion and panic.”
The family said they were satisfied that the police did a thorough investigation.
“We would like to thank them for their persistence and outstanding work. We will now await the trial and keep praying for justice and healing. Thank you for the overwhelming support, please keep sharing our missing children’s posts. Together we can make a difference,” the family said.
The fourth suspect in the Amy’Leigh kidnapping case was arrested yesterday.
“Following a long search, a fourth and possibly final suspect wanted in connection with the kidnapping was arrested earlier today,” Brigadier Vish Naidoo confirmed in a statement on Monday.
Amy’Leigh was snatched from her mother’s arms on 2 September, at Kollegepark Primary School.
The kidnappers demanded a R2-million ransom before releasing the child unharmed in the early hours of 3 September, without payment.
Tharina Human, Leatitia Nel and Pieter van Zyl were arrested shortly after the girl was found. Their bail application has been postponed to 1 October.
Naidoo said investigators from the police’s family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit arrested a 24-year-old man yesterday in Muvhango, outside Vanderbijlpark.
“He will appear before a magistrate on Wednesday, 25 September. The state will request that he be remanded in custody until 1 October, when he will reappear with the other three suspects for a formal bail application.
“We are satisfied that we have all the people responsible for the kidnapping of Amy’Leigh behind bars and the possibility of more arrests is very unlikely.”
Read original story on Rekord Centurion
