A Cape Town man has taken extreme measures to feed his gambling addiction by extorting money from his family by faking his kidnapping.
THE KIDNAPPING
The 25 year old man who has since appeared before the Athlone magistrate’s court, allegedly colluded with a friend to fake his week long abduction and demanding a ransom from his family.
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According to Western Cape Police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk, the suspect’s brother reported him missing, after receiving a message from an unknown number after returning from work at 6pm.
The suspect was last seen by his family on 2 January, in their home in David Venda Street, Betterlife in Philippi East where he was meant to later on deposit rent money at Shoprite.
RANDSOM MONEY
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“He found a message indicating his brother had been kidnapped and the suspects were demanding a ransom amount of between R4,000 and R5,000 for his safe return. They said they took the (rent) money and the cellphone of the captive and were in the Khayelitsha area.
“Later, the wife of the complainant also received a message from a different number saying she must deposit the requested amount to this number. The ransom demand amount was increased to R15,000.”
The family managed to pay the bogus ransom money via’ e-wallet on the 9 January. The very next day, the suspect returned home and told the truth about his capture.
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