Durban — When a 27-year-old man – alleged to have kidnapped a woman, 21, threatening to kill her if her grandmother’s brother-in-law did not unfreeze his bank account and transfer his Road Accident Fund money to him – and his accomplices appear again in the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court he will face a further charge.
On Wednesday, the trial against Sanele Chopani was meant to get under way, but it was postponed because a State witness was not in court.
It is alleged that the woman was abducted in September last year while at home with her grandmother. She was held captive for nine days.
Chopani from KwaMakhutha was arrested at the house where the woman was being kept.
State prosecutor Kaystree Ramsamujh said the witness, the complainant, could not come from her workplace to court. She sought a postponement which was duly granted by magistrate Mohamed Motala.
The State gave notice to the defence that there is an intention to add a further charge of attempted extortion.
“Upon interviewing witnesses it became apparent that the kidnappers were phoning the beneficiary and requesting money,” she said.
Police were led to Chopani by Ntuthuko Gumede, who is currently at large. This came after another accomplice, a bank employee, had shown police where to find Gumede.
The bank employee was arrested during the kidnapping investigation when it was found he had transferred the RAF beneficiary’s money from his savings account to other accounts.
This was before the beneficiary’s account was frozen.
At the time of his arrest, the bank employee said he had been approached by Gumede – who lives in his area – to uplift the sanction on the beneficiary’s bank account. He showed police where to find Gumede.
Four months before the kidnapping the beneficiary’s wife had him freeze his account after armed suspects came to their home and threatened to kill him unless he gave them money.
The beneficiary was taken to Galleria Mall where the accused transferred money into unknown accounts from his and then dropped him off back home.
The couple reported the case to the Verulam SAPS. This was the second time the man had been extorted, previously he was taken and forced to withdraw money.
With the matter having been in transit from the district to the regional court one of the accused now remains at large. Chopani is facing prosecution alone while the National Prosecuting Authority decided not to prosecute the bank employee.
Chopani and his co-accused are alleged to have gone to the home of the beneficiary’s sister-in-law on the pretext that they were looking for an African woman whose name they did not know.
They allegedly tied the woman up and searched the house and before taking her daughter. They instructed her to tell the beneficiary and his wife to go to the bank and uplift the sanction or they would kill the 21-year-old.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Banda – alleged to have kidnapped a woman and her daughter forcing them to transfer money to him – recently abandoned his bail in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court. It is alleged that the woman’s daughter is also a beneficiary of the Road Accident Fund.
Banda is charged with kidnapping, robbery, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition as well as being in contravention of the Immigration Act – his permit documents were found to be fraudulent. Police found that Banda is from Malawi, not Mozambique, as the fraudulent documents say.
Banda, 29, allegedly kidnapped the mother, 59, and her daughter from their Wyebank home. Police said an unknown man allegedly entered their house and pointed a firearm at them. Thereafter, three more men joined the one inside.
“The victims were blindfolded, taken to an unknown location and forced to transfer money.”
Banda is expected back next month.
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Daily News