Mmametlhake business robbers to appear in court
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Court appearance today of two foreign nationals who kidnapped a shop keeper and tried to extort money from the shop owner in Mmametlhake in the outskirts of Mpumalanga.
The incident is said to have occurred this past Sunday, 14th January around 02:00am where the suspects went to Bissy Tuck Shop and broke a wall to gain entry.
Upon gaining entry, they allegedly took the stock of an estimated amount of R2000.00 and later kidnapped the shopkeeper and left the tuck shop.
This is according to Hawks spokesperson in the province Captain Dineo Sekgotodi who also said that later on the owner of the property who is the landlord noticed the incident and contacted the occupier of the property Mahammed Mosharraf, a Bangladeshi citizen, residing at Makau section Mmametlhake.
“Mr Mosharraf came to the tuck shop, and on arrival he found stock scattered all over the floor and the shopkeeper missing. He tried to call the victim’s phone which was ringing but no response. He then reported the matter to the police and a case docket was opened. Later, Mr Masharraf received a call from unknown person demanding R50 000 ransom from him so that the shopkeeper can be released. The suspects kept on calling with different cell phone numbers. They reduced the demand to R20 000.”
“LCRC, Detectives and Middelburg Serious Organised Crime Investigation on standby were summoned to the crime scene. Information was followed which led the team to Hammanskraal. The team negotiated for drop off and the suspects agreed on a spot. The team used the complainant to negotiate for delivery plan. After the money was dropped, the suspect tried to collect the money when he was arrested. The other two evaded arrest. The arrested suspect led the team to a house in Hammanskraal where one suspect was found with the victim and arrested.”
The ransom money recovered while the suspects got arrested and due to make their first appearance at Vaalbank Magistrates Court. The police are tracing two other suspects.
