Stellies saved

A Stellenbosch merchant tied and tied to the eye was saved during an operation with a big stake on Friday night.

Compared to death threats and a redemption request for R5 million, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Aka Hawks, has been thrown and arrested three suspects.

The victim was last seen on February 27, when he left his store in Stellenbosch, but never returned.

The family members in question reported to him missing and, shortly after, received a scary WhatsApp message from an unknown sender.

The police spokesman, the lieutenant of Colonel Siyabuela Vukubi, said that the sender of the message WhatsApp said he knows where the victim is and asked for R100 000 in exchange for his location.

Vukubi reports: “The message sender further claimed to be an intermediary and mentioned that the kidnappers demanding R5 million, but that he personally needed R100 000, fearing for the victim’s life.”

The Caldel took a turn when the victim’s brother received a video showing the owner of the store with his hands and eyes tied with his eye. There followed several threats, warning that the victim would be killed if their requirements were not met.

A police investigation led to the identification of two suspects on February 28, while the Boland K9 unit prevented the suspects in a black VW with the victim from the inside.

Suffering from serious head injuries, he was saved immediately, but suffered serious head injuries and was taken to the hospital for a medical exam.

The three suspects, aged 28, 35 and 39, were arrested on charges, GBH assault, armed robbery and extortion.

They were expecting to appear yesterday at Stellenbosch Regional Court.