Six suspects arrested for kidnapping two South Korean Nationals

5 Jan 2012

Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) have arrested six suspects for allegedly kidnapping two Korean nationals lured to South Africa through a 419 scam. 

The 65 year-old father and his daughter, who is in her 30s apparently responded to an email from the suspects promising tens of millions of dollars. The duo arrived in South Africa from South Korea on Tuesday. The suspects allegedly tasked a driver to fetch the victims from OR Tambo airport. The driver and the two Korean nationals were kidnapped and kept at a house in Meadowlands, Soweto.

The driver managed to escape and alert the police. The suspects demanded a 10 million US dollar ransom from the 65 year-old man's wife (who was back in South Korea), to be deposited into an account in Singapore. The amount was eventually negotiated down to 120 000 US dollars. While the negotiations were on-going, the wife alerted the South Korean embassy in South Africa. Members of the SAPS rescued the captives, before the ransom money was deposited.

Six suspects (five foreign nationals and a South African) were arrested during a rescue operation in the early hours of this morning.

They have been charged with kidnapping, and are expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate Court on Monday. The management of the SAPS would like to congratulate its members who were involved in the operation that saved the two South Koreans.

Statement issued by Colonel McIntosh Polela, South African Police Service, January 5 2012

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