Bitcoin ransom denied

The family of a kidnapped Cape Town businessman has denied receiving an e-mail demanding R50m in bitcoin in exchange for his release.

Walid Brown, a spokesperson for the family of Liyaqat Parker‚ said it had not heard from anyone it could credibly deem to be the kidnappers.

Brown also confirmed that 64-year-old Parker‚ from Plattekloof‚ who has been missing since Monday‚ needed to take chronic medication.

“The family are waiting for the kidnappers to contact them. They have not received contact from anybody demanding anything.

“[There’s been] lots of information from people that have tips. They’ve had hundreds of calls but no credible information,” he said.

The founder of the Foodprop Group‚ which owns the Foodworld chain of supermarkets‚ was kidnapped at gunpoint by five men in a doublecab bakkie as he was driving into the basement of his business premises in Parow.

The attackers forced the security guard into a toilet and took his cellphone at gunpoint before driving away.

Parker is also a board member of Al Amien Foods and a non-executive director of Brimstone Investment Corporation.

Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said the case was being investigated by provincial detectives.