A 42-year-old DSTV technician was found dead in the Newlands after he was kidnapped and his family paid a part of the demanded ransom.
According to the Reaction Unit SA (RUSA) spokesperson, Prem Balram, Johnathan Eloho Okinedo was kidnapped on Saturday, 4 December 2021.
Balram said that Okinedo’s wife and brother arrived at the RUSA Headquarters earlier this week seeking assistance in locating him.
According to his wife, Okinedo, also known as Jojo, a DSTV technician, left on Saturday at about 10:30 to meet a client wanting to fit a decoder. The client had called at 06:45 that day requesting a technician.
“His family received a call from his cellphone later the same day and Okinedo informed them that he was held against his will and the kidnappers were demanding R2000 for his release,” Balram said.
He said the family negotiated the amount to R500 and the money was transferred via e-wallet to a provided mobile number.
“Okinedo was allowed to speak to his family for a few minutes before the call was abruptly disconnected. Both phones were then switched off, and he was not released.The kidnappers called the family from a new number the next day demanding R5000 for release of Okinedo. The family explained that they could not transfer that amount via e-wallet, and the amount of R1500 was agreed upon. When the transfer was done, the kidnappers switched off the phone and Okinedo was not released. He has not been heard from since,” he said.
Balram said Okinedo’s body was discovered near a bush in Newlands, KwaZulu Natal, on Tuesday with gunshot wounds to the head. His family identified him at the state mortuary.
Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said police are investigating a case of kidnapping.
Sources: MSN, The Citizen
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