By: Natasha Archary
A 12-year old Protea Glen boy has been reunited with his family after a kidnapping ordeal.
The boy’s family grew concerned and reported him missing on Tuesday, 12 March when he failed to return home from school.
It has been reported that the boy, whose identity has been protected out of safety concerns, was seen walking away atfer school, with a man who identified himself as the family’s relative from Chiawelo.
However, the family called relatives in Chiawelo and none of them had picked up the boy, or seen him.
On Friday, 15 March the boy’s family received an anonymous caller who demanded a ransom for the boy’s safe return.
It was then that police changed the case from a missing person file to that of kidnapping and roped in a specialised team to assist in the search for the boy.
The team comprised units including hostage negotiators, and the Organised Crime Investigators who traced the boy to the school transport driver’s home, also in Protea Glen.
Thankfully, the 12-year old Protea Glen boy was unharmed and has since been reunited with his family.
“The investigation led the team to an apartment block in Kliptown that belongs to the driver’s mother.
A breakthrough was made following countless interviews with witnesses that led police to the man’s home in Protea Glen where he was subsequently arrested.
The boy was found with no visible injuries and was taken to hospital for a medical examination before being reunited with his family.”
The age of the suspect has not been disclosed, and he is expected to appear at the Protea Magistrates Court this week facing charges of kidnapping.
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