SKELETAL remains found in bushes close to the Umkomaas River is believed to be that of a missing man.
Pradeep Mahabeer has been missing since Thursday, 2 July.
Two men, aged 24 and 27 appeared in the Port Shepstone Magistrates Court on Monday morning, 3 August on a charge of kidnapping, theft, robbery and murder. They were remanded back into police custody.
“It is alleged that Mahabeer of Marburg in Port Shepstone had gone missing from home on 2 July. His white VW Golf was also missing. Warrant Officer Rams Ramphul of the Port Shepstone SAPS, who investigates missing persons enquiries exhausted all avenues in his search for the missing man,” said KZN police media centre’s Col Jay Naicker.
Meanwhile, Port Shepstone detectives were also investigating the thefts of two flat screen TV sets from a house in Umtentweni in late June.
“The 27-year-old man was taken in for questioning and the investigation of a theft case took a major turn, leading investigators to another suspect and the missing man’s VW Golf in Gauteng. Port Shepstone police linked up with the Thembisa SAPS who arrested the second man in Kempton Park and recovered the allegedly stolen VW Golf on Wednesday, 29 July.
Police made a second arrest on 31 July and both accused were charged and detained until their court appearance.”
Investigations peaked when one of the men led detectives to a secluded site in the bushes close to the Umkomaas River where skeletal remains were recovered and taken to the Port Shepstone state mortuary. Tissue samples were obtained for forensic analysis in order to positively identify the deceased.
