Kidnapping ring uncovered

2003-07-21 21:25

Dries Liebenberg

Durban - Four Pakistani men, suspected of 13 kidnappings in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng over the past 18 months, appeared briefly in the Durban magistrate's court on Monday.

This comes after police, acting on a tip-off, dramatically rescued the brother of a wealthy Pakistani businessman last week.

Superintendent Glen Nayager, head of Sydenham crime prevention, and his team freed the man from a flat in the Clare Estate slum where he had been kept for four days.

The man's kidnappers demanded a ransom of R500 000 from his brother for his release.

One suspect was arrested in the flat, despite the fact that he untied his victim and pretended that they were friends.

Two other suspects were arrested at cellphone stalls in the city centre later that same day. The alleged leader of the gang was arrested the next day, Nayager said.

Tariq Mahmoo, 30, Qumar Shafeeq, 23, Shazad Qasim Batti, 28, and Ashfaq Mohammed, 31, will appear in the Durban court again next Monday. They will also appear in court in Johannesburg on July 21 in connection with two kidnappings in Lenasia.

Police are investigating ten other kidnappings for which the group may have been responsible.

- Beeld