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Police said that a Portuguese businessman who was kidnapped outside his business premises in Bramley on Monday evening has been rescued and reunited with his family.
National police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said the 53-year-old man was found “safe and unharmed” on Tuesday afternoon at a house in Kempton Park.
She said the quick breakthrough was made by the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Team, who also arrested nine suspects, including a police officer.
Mathe said the 41-year-old policeman was arrested at his workplace, while four men and a woman were arrested in Kempton Park and another two men and a woman were arrested in Hillbrow.
“The syndicate is alleged to be involved in at least five kidnapping cases where Portuguese businessmen were targeted. They would demand ransom payments from the victims’ families.
“No ransom payment was made at the time when police rescued the victim,” Mathe said.
She also said that National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, was “disappointed” that a police officer was among those arrested.
Mathe said since April, the Kidnapping Task Team arrested 70 suspects in Gauteng alone for their alleged roles in kidnapping cases where ransom demands were made.
The nine are due to appear in court soon.
