Cops probe P'nP, kidnap link
2003-09-15 13:49
Cape Town - Police investigators are probing the possibility of a link between the Pick 'n Pay extortionist and two German nationals arrested in Cape Town for kidnapping.
However, the investigation was merely "routine", said national police spokesperson Sally de Beer on Monday.
"We haven't ruled them out: we're following up on one or two things that have come to our attention.
"But it would definitely be incorrect to say they're our prime suspects or even very strong suspects," she said.
"We just felt it would be negligent not to make a routine investigation."
The men, Michael Brandl and Marcus Muhlthhaler, are being held in custody after their arrest last month in connection with the kidnapping of the teenage son of wealthy parents in the Milnerton, Cape Town, area.
'Various similarities'
The Cape High Court last year rejected a bid by Brandl to sue Pick 'n Pay for R1.3-million in damages after he claimed a ladder fell on him in a Cape Town store.
De Beer said this was one of "various similarities" that led police investigating the Pick 'n Pay extortion bid to take a closer look at the pair.
In May, an extortionist threatened to place items of food laced with cyanide on the supermarket's shelves. Although some shoppers subsequently fell ill, tests showed they were unlikely to have been poisoned.
De Beer said a detective and a forensic expert from the Pick 'n Pay investigating team did at one stage search the men's Cape Town home under a warrant. However they did not interview them.
- SAPA