Key Points
- The authorities arrested three suspects who committed kidnapping and extortion cases in Verulam.
- The victim fell into a trap when he attended a fraudulent job interview before becoming a hostage who needed paying to regain his freedom.
- All suspects will present themselves for court proceedings on March 28.
The Verulam job scam led to a dangerous situation where a victim received brutal treatment by kidnappers who forced his wife into giving them R120,000 ransom.
KZN job scam, kidnapping and extortion scheme
On March 18 the victim received an invitation to a nonexistent job interview at Rosemary Drive in Verulam. When he reached the destination the attackers assaulted him immediately then detained him for four hours.
Warrant Officer Sibu Ncane from Hawks said the criminals obtained R120,000 ransom and phoned the victim’s wife to extract money from her.
Ransom attempt and release
The criminals forced the victim to provide his bank card and then spent his funds before deciding to set him free since his account had less money than anticipated. An unusual good outcome followed the typical fatal pattern of kidnappings.
Coordinated operation leads to arrests
Durban Metro Police along with local security forces joined the Hawks and also Anti-Gang Unit to arrest the suspects who were involved in the KZN job scam, who ranged between 28 to 41 years old on March 26. The authorities followed the suspects back to their house located in Verulam.
The Verulam Magistrate’s Court has therefore scheduled March 28 for the three suspects to face kidnapping and extortion charges.
KwaZulu-Natal Hawks Provincial Head Major General Lesetja Senona commended the expeditious team collaboration between law enforcement agencies for finding the persons involved in the KZN job scam. The operation showcases how partnership work can fight crime effectively while safeguarding the populace stated Major General Lesetja Senona.
