Cape Town businessman found tortured after kidnapping; nine suspects arrested
The 51-year-old businessman from Summer Greens was kidnapped a week ago.
Image: Supplied
Nine suspects are set to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, facing an array of charges including kidnapping, robbery and extortion.
The suspects were arrested on Friday, May 29, and Monday, June 1, by members of the Anti-Kidnapping Task Team.
The provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa, said the 51-year-old businessman from Summer Greens was kidnapped a week ago.
Potelwa said the nine suspects were arrested in Khayelitsha and Saldanha.
“It is alleged that during the robbery and kidnapping incident, the hostage and the occupants of the house were robbed of cellphones and a substantial amount of cash by seven armed suspects,” Potelwa said.
She said as part of the ongoing investigations into the house robbery and kidnapping for ransom of the businessman on May 25, in Summer Greens, the team comprising detectives, intelligence operatives, and special task force members descended on a number of premises in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, on Friday evening, where they arrested five suspects during a tracing operation.
“Further information led the task team to a household in Basil February Street in the coastal town of Saldanha, where the first arrest was effected. Later, they pounced on another house in Noordse Street, also in Saldanha, where the hostage was rescued and three suspects arrested. The hostage, who was tied up and appeared injured from presumed torture, was taken to a medical facility for treatment,” Potelwa said.
The suspects include seven men and two women between the ages of 20 and 50.
“The arrested suspects are expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, facing charges of possession of stolen property, firearms, and ammunition charges, as well as robbery, kidnapping, and extortion charges,” Potelwa said.
Western Cape SAPS management has commended the Anti-Kidnapping Task Team for the meticulous investigations that led to the rescue of the hostage and arrests effected.