Five arrested following foiled kidnapping-for-ransom operation

JOHANNESBURG - Five people including two South Africans, two Ugandans and one Malawian national have been arrested following a foiled kidnapping-for-ransom operation.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) crime intelligence and organised crime operatives, including the Hawks made the arrest at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg on Friday, following a tip-off.

It's understood that a South African woman, allegedly planned the kidnapping of her employer, where she would be forced to withdraw large sums of money from her business bank account.

Police then planned a mock kidnapping.

SAPS spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe:

“The SAPS can therefore confirm that following this successful mock kidnapping and play along to ensure the syndicate is taken down, five suspects were arrested while planning to withdraw money that had been ‘transferred’ following the ‘kidnapping’ of this ‘female employer’."

Mathe said investigations were underway to ascertain whether this group could be linked to other cases of kidnapping for ransom.

 “This was a sensitive operation but through the experience and skill set of our organised crime and intelligence team, we have managed to break the back of this syndicate.  We do believe we have foiled many other kidnappings through the takedown of this syndicate.”