Brazilian businessman released from captivity

Police this morning rescued and released a Brazilian businessman who had been detained in Kensington, east of Johannesburg.

This has led police to believe that they have broken the back of a syndicate that has been luring international business people to our shores and then extort money from their companies. Another South Korean businessman was detained in the same house and was released on May 19 last week after his company paid $70 000 under the pretext that he had struck a deal and the money was for the deposit. He had been detained for five days.

The operation which was undertaken by the Hawks' organised crime units of Johannesburg and North Rand alongside Crime Intelligence and the Crime Combating Unit.  The businessman was the second one to be detained at this address and police, acting on the information supplied by the earlier detainee monitored this house and swooped in the early hours today for the rescue.

The businessman, who believed that his days were numbered after his captors threatened to kill him was relieved to find the police coming in. He broke down a few hours later relieved that his ordeal was over.

However he still needs treatment as he was badly burned on his stomach, chest and feet by his captors who used a hot iron to inflict the pain. He was met this morning by police from his country who are in the country for the soccer spectacle and was due to go to hospital afterwards.

The Brazilian (58) heads an international company that trades in timber and the Korean (51) is the president of an international shipping company. 

The suspects who hail from Nigeria will appear in court on Monday.

The national police commissioner General Cele has welcomed the news of the release of the businessman saying that South Africa will not allow itself to be used as a playing ground for criminals.

"We have said this before and we are saying it now. South Africa is not a paradise for criminals. Those who think that they can use this country as a base for their misdeeds are mistaken. Everyday we are squeezing the space for the criminals and we will continue to do so," he said. Statement issued by Musa Zondi, South African Police Service, May 27 2010

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