Six People Arrested For Kidnapping A Dutch National In A 419 Scam

Late last week the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (the Hawks) of the SAPS received information about a Dutch national who was lured to South Africa on a R42 million scrap metal deal.

A Dutch company apparently saw an advert which marketed this potentially lucrative deal on the internet and sent a consultant to investigate it.

After arriving in South Africa, the Dutch national got in touch with the people who placed the advert. In meeting these people, he was kidnapped and held captive in a house in Olivedale, outside Fourways. The suspects phoned Holland, demanding a ransom of 50 000 US Dollars. Eventually, they were paid 15 000 US Dollars through a UK account. The victim was dropped off at OR Tambo Airport after the ransom was paid.

Following on the information provided by the captive, the Hawks staked out the house in which he was kept - and arrested three people on Saturday, two South Africans and one Nigerian national. These arrests led to the arrest of three Nigerian nationals last night. In total, six suspects have been arrested, five men and one woman. The three suspects arrested on Saturday will appear in the Randburg Magistrate's Court today. The three others arrested last night are expected to appear at the same court on Thursday.

Statement issued by Colonel McIntosh Polela, SAPS, July 12 2011

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