A MAN who was kidnapped on Saturday, 4 December, was found three dead days later, with gunshot wounds.
According to Reaction Unit South African spokesman Prem Balram, Jonathan Okinedo’s wife and brother arrived at their offices earlier this week looking for help to find him.
He said they had paid the kidnappers twice, but the 42-year-old from Amaoti, north of Durban, was not released.
“His body was discovered near a bush in Newlands on Tuesday, 7 December, with gunshot wounds to the head. He was identified by his brother.”
Balram said according to his wife, the DStv technician left at 10.30am to meet a client.
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“The client had called at 6.45am requesting a technician. His family received a call from his cellphone later. Jonathan told them that he was held against his will and the kidnappers were demanding R2 000.”
He said the family negotiated the amount to R500, transferred via e-Wallet to a provided mobile number.
“The victim was allowed to speak to his family for a few minutes before the call was disconnected. Both phones were then switched off,” he said.
Balram said on Sunday, the kidnappers called from a new number, demanding R5 000 to release the victim.
“They explained that they could not transfer it and R1 500 was agreed upon. After the transfer, the kidnappers switched off the phone and Jonathan was not released.”
He said Jonathan moved from Delta State in Nigeria to South Africa in 2015.
He was found dead with Uber driver Mandla Hlongwane (27), who was transporting him.
Mandla’s brother, Kwazi (39) said:
“He was just transporting a man. We are sad and heartbroken,” he said.
KZN cops spokeswoman Colonel Thembeka Mbele said a case of kidnapping was opened at Inanda and the docket was transferred to Ntuzuma Police Station for investigation.
Mbele said Newlands East police received a complaint of two bodies in the bush at Riverdene on Tuesday.
“They found unknown men with gunshot wounds lying next to a white vehicle. One of them was later identified as a man who was allegedly kidnapped. Charges of murder were opened at Newlands East Police Station.”
