Publications
The Department of Correctional Services on Saturday confirmed the release of a woman convicted of kidnapping baby Micaela Hunter in 1994.
Sonja Combrink who was sentenced to prison for 12 years, was released on parole on October 14 2004 after serving eight years of her sentence.
Department spokesperson Johan Massyn told Sapa on Saturday that Combrinck, who served her sentence at the Medium C female prison in Kroonstad, asked to be "released in private and silent circumstances."
On May 4 1994, Combrinck, posing as a Red Cross worker, walked into the Marymount Maternity Home in Kensington and told Micaela's mother that she needed her baby for a bath demonstration for unmarried mothers before disappearing with Micaela.
Combrinck, who had a miscarriage after nine weeks, pretended to be pregnant for the rest of her term and kidnapped baby Micaela so that she would not lose her boyfriend.
Almost two years after her kidnapping, Combrincks' boyfriend Charles McDonald, who believed he was the baby's father, went to a police station in Benoni with Micaela, and told his story.
DNA tests later confirmed that baby Micaela belonged to the Hunters.
The woman is expected to remain on parole until November 19 2008.
