Crime File picture: Gerd Altman/Pixabay
Three men suspected of being behind the abduction of a 50-year-old man were arrested in Woodstock, say police.
The abducted man, who was taken captive last Friday at about 7pm, was freed during the operation less than two hours later, according to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani.
The bust involved the Hawks, the South African Banking Risk Information Centre, the police’s provincial Organised Crime Unit, the Maitland Flying Squad and the Financial Intelligence Centre.
Investigations had led the police to the Woodstock area, said Warrant Officer Hani.
“The team tracked the suspects' location in Woodstock, where entry was gained into the premises and the team discovered the hostage tied up in the main bedroom and was successfully rescued then taken to hospital for examination."
Two of the suspects were arrested as they tried to flee the scene while a third was apprehended at about 3am the following day, hiding in a nearby yard.
The suspects, who are between 33 and 37 years of age, will appear in the Cape Town Regional Court on Tuesday June 18 on charges of kidnapping and extortion.