Cape Town - One of the suspects accused of kidnapping a 14-year-old girl said he was solely responsible for the matter.
Isaac Murishi, Paul Bucumi and David Ndayisaba appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court yesterday, facing charges of kidnapping, rape with common cause, aggravated robbery and attempted extortion.
Their bail application was expected to commence, but due to logistics, it was decided that it would take place in the new year as State prosecutor Siyabulela Boto would be on leave.
“If the bail application would proceed it would only be partly heard as I’m going on leave on Thursday and would be returning in the new year.
“That would then be postponed until I come and it would not be in the interest of justice, as it would cause further delays.”
Defence attorney, Livhuwani Nemugumoni, concurred with the State. Before the accused left the dock, Murishi raised his hand and conferred with his lawyer.
Nemugumoni said his client said: “He is making confessions that the other individuals are not involved but this is not the platform for that.”
Magistrate Bongi Mtwana agreed that it was not the right platform and said the State will have to attend to it.
Outside court, Nemugumoni explained that Murishi had been in a relationship with the 14-year-old girl.
“I’m on record for the three accused.
“Accused 1 (Murishi) said he was responsible and what his consistent message has been, that he knows the victim; he is the one who made arrangements for the victim to be at the apartment where he stays in Parow Valley.
“The other two people were arrested because Bucumi is his roommate and Ndayisaba is the caretaker of the property.
“In terms of the instructions, the information which we received was that when the other two were arrested, they would be released after the handover of Murishi.
“We have made some representations to the public prosecutor and the investigating officer is making leads.”
The 14-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped when she was on her way to gym in Samora Machel on November 12. She was found in Parow Valley five days later.
While in captivity, the accused allegedly sent a WhatsApp text to her family, demanding R10000 or an exchange for her cousin, also a 14year-old.
After hearing about the relationship claims on Wednesday, the victim’s aunt said: “If they were in a relationship, why did they demand a ransom and why did they ask us to bring her cousin to them. All we want is the truth from the accused.”