Some of the banknotes used to pay the ransom for Bay biokineticist, Riana Pretorius, were allegedly found on one of the suspects arrested in connection with her kidnapping.
This is only some of the information that came to light during the bail application of the two accused, Xolisile Rawutini and Xolani Kafile, in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court today, April 26.
According to the bail opposing affidavit of the investigating officer, Col. Kanna Swanepoel, when Kafile was arrested in East London shortly after the kidnapping last month, these notes were found in his possession.
Swanepoel also alleges that the fluorescent powder that the money was coated in for tracing purposes, was discovered on Kafile’s clothing, inside his shoes and in the room of the Bed and Breakfast that he was staying in to “evade arrest.”
He explained in the affidavit that after Pretorius’s father, Pieter, was contacted for a ransom demand of R2 million, pictures were taken of the serial numbers of the notes and these serial numbers allegedly correspond with the six R200 notes found in Kafile’s possession.
Swanepoel explained that on the morning of March 16, Pretorius was taken from outside her place of work in Newton Park and forced at gunpoint into a white Corolla. He said that according to Pretorius, not far from where she was nabbed, she was transferred to a different unknown car, where her head was covered and before she was taken to an unknown location.
After the vehicle was pulled over by police minutes later, Swanepoel said that Pretorius was already gone but three suspects fled from the car, with Rawutini allegedly throwing a firearm out the window first.
He explained in the affidavit that after the scene was processed, a palm print was found in the vehicle.
“The fingerprint expert is of the opinion that the palm print found on the vehicle was not older than 24 hours. The vehicle was tested and it transpired that it was hijacked in December 2022 in Algoa Park,” the affidavit read. According to Swanepoel, the palm print allegedly belongs to Kafile.
The court heard that according to the victim, the locations where she was kept, as well as the vehicles and cell phones used, were changed regularly. There were also three proof of life videos made and three attempts at exchanging the ransom money.
“Prior to the first ransom payment, photographs of the money were taken, reflecting the serial numbers and they were laced with fluorescent powder.”
The affidavit further read that when the third attempt at an exchange was successful, Pretorius was allegedly released hours later with a cell phone that had her father’s number preloaded.
“We are of the view that the applicants did not act alone and that they acted in common purpose with other suspects at this stage. It is believed that they form part of a well-organised syndicate that specialises in the kidnapping industry where huge sums of money are extorted in exchange for victims.
“It is based on the following facts: The victim is totally unknown to the applicants before court. The applicants knew exactly what the victim’s routine was in the morning, they knew where she worked, her father’s contact details and other personal details of the family. This is an indication of how well the kidnapping was planned in advance,” Swanepoel’s affidavit said.
The state told the court that they have a strong prima facie case against the accused and said that if granted bail, Rawutini and Kafile may attempt to flee to evade their trial. The court was asked to also consider that the accused knows the victim.
The case has been postponed to Friday, April 28 for further argument.
Pretorius was safely returned to her family on March 24.
