Vereeniging businessman, Zaheer Asmal has been rescued by the National Crime Intelligence Anti-Kidnapping Task Team after he was abducted at his business premises on Friday last week.
Police Spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe says, “Just before midnight on Monday, the Task Team led a multi-disciplinary operation consisting of members of the Special Task Force (STF), the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) assisted by private security.”
Mathe states that the team swooped in at three identified addresses, one in Lenasia South where the victim was found unharmed. “At this address, police arrested the owner of the property, a 70-year-old Mozambiquen national.
“At the second address in Ennerdale, police found a dark grey Toyota Hilux and fake registration number plates which were utilized in the commission of the crime. One suspect, a Malawian national was arrested.
“When police arrived at the third address in Roodepoort, police were met with gunfire, fortunately none of the Task Team members sustained any injuries.”
One suspect, a South African national was arrested. One unlicensed firearm was also seized. All three suspects are facing charges of kidnapping and robbery with aggravated circumstances .
The South African national faces additional charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm as well as attempted murder.
In the past week alone, the Task Team has arrested eight suspects linked to kidnappings where ransom demands were made.
