5 arrested for kidnapping in Grindr scam, victim rescued after ransom ordeal
The suspects were traced through cellphones.
A multi-task team that includes Jeppe SAPS detectives, crime prevention and provincial crime intelligence arrested five suspects for kidnapping on May 31.
Captain Richard Munyayi from Jeppe SAPS said on May 24 a 26-year-old man was kidnapped after he requested an e-hailing service.
The victim allegedly met with one of the suspects on social media (Grindr). The suspect pretended to be gay and hooked up with the victim.
They agreed to meet and the victim requested a ride from the e-haling service from Maboneng to Mangolongolo informal settlement in Denver.
“Upon arrival, the victim was taken to a room by the person he met on Grindr. Once they were inside, they were joined by three other men. The victim was forced to make phone calls to his family where the suspects demanded a ransom of R50 000.
“The family informed the police and a case was opened. They only raised R1 000 and made a cash-send to the victim’s phone.
“The suspects withdrew the money but insisted on getting more. They withdrew an amount of R20 000 and then forced the victim to apply for a loan online to an amount of R10 000 and after it was approved the suspects transferred the money to their account.
“They again forced the victim to transfer R142 000. The suspects went to different places such as Ghandi square and Jeppestown to make withdrawals. The suspects had already withdrawn R117 000 when the police went to the bank and requested that the account should be frozen.
“The police spend sleepless nights tracing and tracking the suspects through cellphones. They managed to make a breakthrough in the early hours of May 31 by arresting a suspect, whom they believe is the mastermind.
“They arrested him along Jules Street in Jeppestown. The suspect took them to a room in Mangolongolo where the victim was found. They found him with three men who were keeping him under guard. The four suspects took the police to the fifth in Jeppestown hostel,” he said.
All suspects were taken to Jeppe SAPS and charged with kidnapping. They appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.
Police investigations continue.
