The Gqeberha-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation team of the Hawks has successfully opposed bail for six suspects accused of kidnapping a 55-year-old Pakistani businessman. The ruling was handed down on July 14 in the Graaff-Reinet Magistrate’s Court.
According to the Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba, the accused, comprising both South African and Pakistani nationals, currently face serious charges related to an alarming abduction in February in Graaff-Reinet.
He added, “According to initial reports, the victim was allegedly approached by individuals impersonating police officers. Under the false pretence of official business, they persuaded him to accompany them to a nearby station and he never returned home.”
A multidisciplinary team, including the Hawks in the Eastern Cape, the National Crime Intelligence, the Soweto Flying Squad and private security partners, launched a high-priority operation.
Fumba said, “The operation led to a breakthrough on March 13, when the victim was successfully rescued in Evaton, Gauteng. Four suspects were arrested across various locations, and police seized a vehicle believed to have been used in the abduction, as well as an unlicensed firearm.”
He added that ongoing investigations later led to the arrest of two additional suspects, bringing the total number of accused to six.
“During a closed court session, all six appeared before the Graaff-Reinet Magistrate’s Court on July 14, where the Hawks presented a compelling argument against their release. The court sided with the State, denying bail and keeping the suspects in custody.”
The matter has been remanded to 4 August 2025 for further court proceedings.
