Police on the hunt for kidnap mastermind

Police are hunting down the alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping of Raisethorpe Secondary School matric pupil Abdul Mateen Khalid (17), with detectives searching for a Pakistani national whom they believe can shed light on the case.

Abdul was reunited with his parents on Monday after enduring a 13-day ordeal with his captors, who held him at various locations. He was abducted in Orient Heights on May 24 with his kidnappers demanding a R11.5 million ransom for his release.

A crime intelligence-driven operation with members of the Hawks, KZN serious crime unit and the special task force managed to crack the case and free Abdul from his captors. Five suspects in total were arrested. Two have already appeared in court while three more will appear today. It is believed that one of the suspects is employed in Msunduzi Municipality’s security division while another is a police clerk working in Bulwer.

Maritzburg Sun understands that police have identified a Pakistani national who operates a cellular repair store in the city as a person of interest in the case. Since the breakthrough in the investigation, the man has fled his home in Northdale and has not been seen at his business. Detectives were expecting to make a breakthrough late last night.

Arriving at home on Monday, Abdul recounted his ordeal saying he had to endure 13 days in a tiny holding room, sleeping on the cold floor as his abductors tried to extort the ransom from his family.

Late last week, detectives made their first breakthrough identifying and tracing vehicles used in the crime by analysing footage and information provided by private security firm Mi7’s camera surveillance system. Three suspects were arrested, with one later being released. Investigations led police to Richmond, where Abdul was being held but the syndicate had already fled the property.

Working round the clock, detectives on Sunday evening traced the kidnappers to Umzinto and in an early morning raid on Monday swooped on the outbuilding arresting a further three suspects and safely rescuing Abdul.

On Monday, Raisethorpe Secondary School Principal Pragalathan Gounden said the school was overjoyed when they heard that Abdul had been found.

“We were going to have another special assembly to pray for him and his safe return. Then we got the news. We announced it in the assembly and everyone just started clapping and shouting as they were relieved and happy that he was found safe,” said Gounden.