A man who has been linked with the April kidnapping of a Gqeberha businessman was out on parole for murder when he allegedly committed the offence.
This information came to light in the Gqeberha Magistrate's Court on Friday, shortly before the bail application of Mnyamezeli Tete, 59, was set to commence.
Tete was arrested by The Hawks on 9 June, about 3km from Fort Beaufort.
He allegedly tried evading arrest.
Before the bail application could get underway, the court was informed that he had three previous convictions and no pending cases.
He is out on parole for murder, in addition to two previous convictions of robbery with aggravating circumstances and car theft.
The murder is said to have happened as a result of the robbery. No further details were divulged.
Defence Advocate Zolile Ngqeza prepared an affidavit in support of Tete's bail application in terms of a Schedule 5 offence, which was later changed to Schedule 6.
Ngqeza said due to this change, his client would have to testify in support of his release on bail.
The kidnapping that Tete is charged with, is that of Running Rodney Chen, 31, who was kidnapped at his business premises in Doyle Street on 5 April.
Chen, a Chinese National, owns R&R Windscreens in North End.
After Chen's kidnappers snatched him, they allegedly demanded a ransom from his mother.
He was dropped off in Kariega in the middle of the night after six days after a ransom had been paid.
Algoa FM News previously reported that Chen's mother had also been kidnapped a few months prior, but that she managed to escape from her captors.
Also read: GQ businessman's alleged kidnapper in court
Tete's co-accused in the Chen case is Mzonoxolo Grwayibana.
Grwayibana was arrested on 16 May and released on bail of R3 000 seven days later.
His case was remanded to 16 July.
According to the Hawks, Tete is also seemingly linked to the kidnapping of Sonam Gajjar, 34, who was taken in her driveway on Mosel Road in Kariega on 13 March.
Tete's bail application was postponed to 12 July.
