Woman held after 'kidnapping'

2010-07-06 07:52

Johannesburg - A Pretoria woman who claimed she was kidnapped and held for ransom was arrested after being found with her friends on Monday, the Hawks said.

The 35-year-old also faced a R200 000 fine for allegedly wasting police time and resources, after they spent all of Saturday and Sunday looking for her, spokesperson Colonel Musa Zondi said.

"It all started when her brother opened a case of kidnapping at Temba police station on Saturday after someone phoned him and demanded R45 000 for the release of his sister."

They threatened to kill her if he didn't deliver the money.

Police eventually found her at a house in GaRankuwa Heights, "relaxing with friends", one of whom had allegedly made the call to her brother.

She was expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Wednesday on a charge of defeating the ends of justice.

- SAPA