Chinese National From Zhejiang Rescued in South Africa After 36 Days in Captivity; Five Suspects Arrested
JOHANNESBURG — South African police rescued a 38-year-old man on Oct. 4 from a plot in Randfontein, Gauteng province, ending 36 days in captivity, and arrested five suspects, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said. According to police, the man was kidnapped on Aug. 30 in the Johannesburg central business district. Chinese media outlets, including Hongxing News and China Ningbo Net, identified the victim as a Chinese national surnamed Xu from Zhejiang province.
Police said the kidnappers demanded a ransom from the victim's family — put at US$2 million by police and at 32 million rand by the South African Broadcasting Corporation — and a case of kidnapping and extortion was registered at Johannesburg Central Police Station. Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, spokesperson for Gauteng police, said a multidisciplinary team comprising Johannesburg Central detectives, Crime Intelligence, the Anti-Kidnapping Team, the Flying Squad and private security companies was assembled to run an intelligence-driven investigation.
On Oct. 4, investigators arrested three men who were found in possession of the cellphone used to contact the victim's family and demand the ransom. Further investigation led the team to the plot in Randfontein, where the victim was found and rescued unharmed; two more suspects were arrested at the premises, bringing the total number of arrests to five.
Police said all five suspects are expected to face charges of kidnapping and extortion, and that the investigation remains ongoing. Chinese media reported that the Fujian Hometown Association of South Africa assisted police in the rescue effort and that five further suspects remain at large.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：南非约翰内斯堡市中心天际线，右侧为希尔布罗塔与庞特城公寓。图片来源：Frankbel，CC BY-SA 4.0，经维基共享资源（Wikimedia Commons）发布。The Johannesburg CBD skyline in South Africa, with the Hillbrow Tower and Ponte City. Photo: Frankbel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
