Family member arrested in Newcastle kidnapping case
It's emerged a relative and a close family friend are among the five people arrested in connection with yesterday's kidnapping of two Newcastle siblings and their cousin.
The girls - 11-year-old Naseem Jama, six-year-old, Nazia and their nine-year-old cousin Muneera were being driven to school along with three other cousins when they were flagged down in Madadeni yesterday morning by people pretending to have car trouble.
After their driver stopped the car - the men produced guns and forced the driver and the male cousins out of the car - and speeding off with the girls.
ALSO READ: Family relieved after kidnapped Newcastle children found
#NewcastleHijacking Update: KZN Authorities have rescued the three Newcastle Girls who were allegedly abducted during a hijacking in the Madadeni area this morning. They were found in a home in the Osizweni area. Four suspects have been arrested. @ECR_Newswatch pic.twitter.com/17hzw0cSVN
— Nushera Raisa (@nushera) May 21, 2018
Police say the suspects later contacted the family - asking for a large ransom.
Police spokesperson, Thembeka Mbhele says the girls were later traced to a house in Osizweni and rescued by officers about 12 hours after they were abducted.
"The four suspects, aged between 20 and 26, were arrested and found in possession of an unlicensed firearm. A hijacked vehicle had been recovered at Osizweni, C section. The four suspects will be appearing in court soon.
"They will be facing charges of carjacking, kidnapping, human trafficking as well as the possession of an unlicensed firearm. We added human trafficking because according to the family - they were demanding money," she said.