11 Arrested in Alleged Kidnapping of Chinese Businessman for US$120,000 Ransom

Police in Harare have made a significant breakthrough in a kidnapping case involving a Chinese businessman, resulting in the arrest of eleven individuals, including two foreigners and a church bishop from the capital city.

The incident unfolded when the Chinese man was abducted on Wednesday from a Chinese restaurant in Belgravia by a group of suspects that also included two Chinese nationals. The kidnappers then relocated the victim to Mandara suburb, where they demanded a hefty ransom of US$120,000 for his safe release.

The plot took a turn when a friend of the businessman, approached to assist in raising the ransom, decided to alert the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Harare. Acting swiftly on the information, detectives from the CID Homicide Department raided the location in Mandara where the victim was being held captive, leading to the apprehension of the entire gang.

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Confirming the arrests, Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanaza acknowledged the seriousness of the crime but refrained from divulging further details, citing ongoing investigations.

This recent incident adds to a string of similar cases in Harare, highlighting the persistence of kidnapping-related crimes in the area. In a notable case from January, a Cameroonian businessman and an associate were brought to court on charges of kidnapping. The victim, a truck driver, had been abducted due to his failure to deliver a consignment of fertiliser in Zambia. The ordeal saw the driver detained in a Zambian remand prison for approximately two months before managing to report the incident through Interpol.

The suspects in both cases are facing severe charges related to kidnapping, underscoring the gravity of such offenses and the concerted efforts by law enforcement to combat such criminal activities.