By Johnathan Paoli
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has urged employers to conduct thorough background checks on workers after the arrest of three suspects for the kidnapping and murder of seven people in Newark, KZN.
One of the suspects, who investigators believe orchestrated the attack, had been employed by the victims, he said.
Mkhwanazi, commending investigators for the swift response and capture of the accused, said police would work to ensure justice for the victims’ family, but that some crimes could be prevented through greater vigilance.
“It is worrisome that one of the suspects was employed by the victims. We are urging employers to do background checks on all the people they employ and also study their suspicious behaviour. Some cases, especially in the farms and secluded areas, are committed by people who are familiar and close to the victims,” he said.
On Tuesday night, the seven people were abducted from their residence in the suburb of Newtown, Newark, by three men aged 21, 26 and 28.
The crime was discovered the following morning when a domestic worker arrived at the property and found that the occupants and a vehicle were missing.
After being alerted, police traced a lead to Hlomendlini in the Mandeni Local Municipality, where two suspects were arrested. A cellphone belonging to one of the victims was found in their possession.
The investigation then led police to Dendetu, Sundumbili, where a third suspect was arrested. Police also found a firearm and additional cellphones, bringing the total number of cellphones recovered and believed to belong to the victims to 11.
It is alleged that the trio broke into the home, restrained the victims and forced them into a vehicle belonging to one of them.
Police said one of the suspects allegedly raped one of the victims, a 20-year-old woman, before the group was transported to Melmoth, nearly 200 km away.
The same victim was allegedly sexually assaulted again, while the suspects also demanded banking details from at least three of the victims.
On Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, investigators traced bank transactions from the victims’ accounts.
Following their arrest, the suspects led police to Melmoth on Wednesday, where the bodies of the seven victims, aged between 20 and 83, were found.
Three of the victims were reportedly shot, while the other four were stabbed to death.
The suspects are expected to appear in court on Friday.
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