Brazilian tortured, held hostage in SA


MELODY BRANDON

JOHANNESBURG - While the Brazilian soccer team received a warm welcome to South Africa, a businessman from Brazil is happy to be alive after he was held captive and tortured by Nigerian citizens in a house in Kensington, east of Johannesburg.

Spokesman for the Hawks, Musa Zondi said that the businessman who heads an international timber company, was the second victim to fall into the gang’s clutches.

The first, a South Korean businessman and president of an international shipping company was released on May 19 after his company paid a $70 000 ransom fee to his captors under the guise of a business deal.

According to police, the Hawks swooped on the residence after getting crucial information from the South Korean businessman.

The Hawks put the house under surveillance and finally swooped in during the early hours of yesterday morning.

Police officials, in the country with the Brazilian soccer team, interviewed the man before he was taken to hospital.

“He was badly burnt on his stomach, chest and feet by his captors, who used a hot iron to inflict the pain. He believed his days were numbered and his captors threatened to kill him,” said Zondi.

Zondi said that the plan to lure the men to the country was not a traditional 419 scam, but had been carefully planned and the businessmen specifically targeted.

“These men thought they were coming here to conclude legitimate business deals. The man from South Korea thought that he would be meeting with another businessman to ship concrete to Iraq,” he said.

The names of the two men could not be released as police fear they may come to harm.

The Nigerian suspects will appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

When asked if the Hawks were concerned about similar crimes being committed during the World Cup, Zondi said “he would not go anywhere near the topic of the World Cup”.

“We cannot prevent this type of crime from happening, but we can make an example of these criminals,” he said.

National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele warned that South Africa “is not a paradise for criminals”.

“Those who think they can use this country as a base for their misdeeds are mistaken.

“Everyday we are squeezing the space for criminals and we will continue to do so,” he said.

Other businessmen swindled by “business” scams:

In 2008, Osami Hitomi was lured to South Africa under the false impression he would be engaged in an investment company called Jeffdon Properties, he was robbed and held hostage in a house in Alberton. Hitomi’s captors demanded a $5 million ransom. Seven people were arrested, six were Nigerian and one South African.

The same group was also linked to the kidnapping of Kenth Sadaaki Suzuki, a Swedish national, who was taken to a house in Rosettenville. His hands and legs were bound and the kidnappers demanded a 200 000 euro ransom from Suzuki’s family for his release.

It is believed the syndicate was also involved in the kidnapping of American nationals, coming to the country for business meetings with the syndicate.

The modus operandi is to establish a front company to lure the men to the country. Once in South Africa, they are kidnapped, tortured and held for ransom.

The police warn that foreign visitors coming to South Africa should thoroughly screen potential business partners and contact the police to do so.

nigerians kidnapping people in south africa!!!

unbelieveable

What the hell is wrong with Nigerians! Why don't U leave us in peace to host a succesful World Cup! Go do this in your own backyard!

Mpele:

What the hell is wrong with Nigerians! Why don't U leave us in peace to host a succesful World Cup! Go do this in your own backyard!

are you injecting dog poo? you sound like you are.