DURBAN - A SENIOR police officer told the Durban High Court yesterday how kidnapped Durban businesswoman Sandra Munsamy was rescued.
Munsamy was kidnapped on May 30, 2019, while driving on the M13 on-ramp from Stapleton Road. She was rescued on November 7 and the accused were arrested by police.
Four men, Lucas Ndlovu, 36, Dumisani Radebe, 39, Jose Omega Tembe, 38, and Arthur Da Silva Mondlane, 36, are on trial for kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances and attempted extortion.
Mondlane and Tembe are Mozambican nationals and are also facing charges of remaining in the country without a valid permit. The four have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Brigadier Gopal Govender, the national co-ordinator for kidnapping cases at the Hawks, told the Durban High Court that as a result of intelligence information that was received from a source in Gauteng, it was established that the group behind Munsamy’s kidnapping was led by Mozambican nationals.
After receiving information, he went to Gauteng on November 7, along with the Gauteng Hawks, National Crime Intelligence, Metro police, EMPD SWAT team and the Crime Technical Surveillance Unit.
The team proceeded to Dainfern Mall in Gauteng.
He then proceeded to enter the gym where he saw two men, who fitted the description given to him of the suspects.
Govender said the demeanour of Tembe was calm and co-operative at this point and he shared information.
The defence attorney, acting for Tembe and Mondlane, is contesting the admissibility of statements the pair made to police because they claim that these were made under extreme duress.
The attorney said his clients told him that they were assaulted.
Govender refuted these claims. He emphasised that the rights of the accused were thoroughly explained to them at all times.
Govender said some hours later on November 7, the team, with Tembe and Mondlane, proceeded to Witbank in Mpumalanga to rescue Munsamy.
The two other accused were arrested with Munsamy.
The case was adjourned to today.