Miguel’s family chase, threaten kidnap accused

THE man accused of kidnapping 9-year-old Miguel Louw was forced to run for safety through the corridors of the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday, after the boy’s family chased him and threatened to assault him.

Mohammed Vahed Ebrahim, who is currently out on bail, is facing a charge of kidnapping after Louw went missing earlier this year.

Miguel’s family said they were “upset” and “angry” that Ebrahim had yet to be charged with murder, despite Miguel’s body being found buried in a shallow grave last month. The State told the court they were still waiting for evidence before adding the charge to the docket.

When Ebrahim and his father, Ebrahim Shah, tried to leave the court building, supporters of Miguel tried to attack the men.

“They had to run back inside. I came as part of the crew in support of justice for Miguel, but when they wanted to hit an old man (Shah) I could not allow that,” said Shanaaz Appolis.

She said while the family was justifiably upset, Ebrahim was innocent until proven guilty and his father did not deserve to be assaulted.

While Appolis spoke to The Mercury, Miguel’s father, Kirk Louw, could be heard hurling profanities at Ebrahim, who stood nearby.

Louw chased Ebrahim into the court’s coffee shop, but he got away while some of Louw’s family called for people to catch him. One of the women chasing Ebrahim hit him on the head with her umbrella as he ran past.

Family members and friends, dressed in T-shirts with a picture of Miguel on the front, shouted at the media to stop recording the incident. Police eventually escorted Ebrahim out of the building.

Earlier, Ebrahim told the court he was unable to fully abide by his bail conditions as he had not been given the form to be signed at the Phoenix police station, where he is supposed to report three times a week.

Magistrate Mohamed Motala adjourned the matter to December 5.

Ebrahim told media, in the presence of his lawyer Rishi Reddy, that he was “very sad” about what had happened to the boy and added he has received threatening messages and calls while on bail.