A top-level team of detectives arrested members of an international fraud syndicate which has been linked to the kidnapping of several prominent businessmen, one of whom was found murdered this month. The detectives made their breakthrough when they arrested five alleged kidnappers early on Tuesday, several hours after rescuing a Jordanian national the kidnappers had lured to South Africa with the promise of making a quick fortune.
Seven cases of kidnapping, resulting in 10 arrests, are being investigated by the police task team, drawn from the SAPS National Special Investigations Unit and formally established two weeks ago. Four of the victims were international businessmen who had been lured to South Africa by criminals using either a Nigerian advance-fee fraud or the "black dollar" scams. Police, who have been tight-lipped about investigations despite having released several warnings about the scams internationally in the past few days, confirmed major breakthroughs in their investigations. Inspector Mark Reynolds, a spokesperson for the team, said more than one syndicate was believed to be behind the kidnappings.
The most recent breakthrough occurred during the early hours of yesterday when three Nigerians, a Ghanaian national and a South African suspect were arrested in connection with the kidnapping of Jordanian citizen Abu Baker Mohammed Ali Saqaallah,57. Saqaallah was lured to South Africa by a fraud syndicate on June 12 and kidnapped at Johannesburg International Airport on his arrival. His attackers contacted his family in Jordan and demanded about R240 000 for his release.
The task team found Saqaallah, unharmed, on Monday afternoon and freed him. Continued work led to the five arrests on Tuesday. Four arrests have also been made in connection with the kidnapping of Johannesburg businessman Lawrie Butler, who was abducted with his son and father-in-law when they were on their way to church on March 14. Police managed to track Butler and the other two victims to a hideout in Soweto. Three South Africans and a Bulgarian suspect were arrested in connection with the incident.
Johannesburg businessman Zunaid Tayob, 33, was snatched by six men several kilometres from his Houghton home five days later, on March 19. The kidnappers demanded about R1,86-million for his release before police foiled the crime and Tayob was released unhurt. Other victims include Chinese businessman Chi-Chen Shen, an unnamed Greek business tycoon, who lives in Bedfordview on the East Rand, Canadian Jean Pierre Li Shing Tat - who was found dead - and Japanese businessman Kensuke Matsumoto.
The advanced-fee scam involves the international circulation of an appeal to businessmen requesting help to transfer over-budgeted money, while the black dollar scam involves the sale of counterfeit US dollars covered in ink.
Source: IoL
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