Detective links burglar to hijack, kidnap case
Good police work leads to the conviction of a man for hijacking and kidnapping.
AN investigation into housebreaking in Clairwood led to the arrest of a man wanted for hijacking and kidnapping.
While investigating a housebreaking in Flower Road, Clairwood on Thursday, 30 September, Brighton Beach detective services’ Constable Samu Memela began to suspect the man he had arrested could have been involved in a Jacobs Road hijacking and kidnapping on 26 November, 2013.
Fingerprints from the knife used in the hijacking and the recovered car were the same, but did not match the personal information given to police by the arrested man. Cst Memela questioned him further and he admitted he had given police false personal information.
The 27-year-old appeared in Durban regional court on charges of hijacking and kidnapping on Tuesday, 14 October. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He has not yet been sentenced for the housebreaking.
His 23-year-old accomplice in the hijacking and kidnapping was arrested on Thursday, 16 October and will appear in the Durban regional court today. He is expected to remain in police custody while further investigations take place.
“Evidence against the co-accused is overwhelming and another imprisonment is awaited by this office. Cst Mamela is applauded by Brighton Beach SAP management for his thorough investigation that led to solving the 2013 kidnapping and hijacking case, ensuring that the perpetrator of this violent crime has been put behind bars,” said Brighton Beach SAP communications officer, Captain Louise Le Roux.
