Last week Thursday, South Africans all over the country were relieved to hear that the four Moti brothers were reunited with their parents after being kidnapped for 3 weeks.
However, the silence that followed the reunion fuelled speculation by members of the public, with many taking to social media to raise their concerns.
One person said, “Wonderful news, but sorry to say something’s just not right with this whole story”. While another commented on how “cool, calm and collected” everyone is.
The Moti family denies paying ransom
According to News24, the R50 million ransom was allegedly paid in “bundles of cash”. This is according to “three impeccable sources”. And two of the sources are in law enforcement and have “intimate knowledge of the investigation”.
The Moti family reportedly asked for proof that the boys were still alive before agreeing to pay any ransom. And proof of life was shown a week after the kidnapping.
According to the sources, the money was paid via a “dead drop” – a coordinated handoff at an agreed hiding spot. Once all the money was received by the kidnappers, the boys were released.
However, the uneasiness surrounding this case comes from the fact that Keshia Patchiappen, spokesperson for the family, denied that any ransom was paid.
“There has been a lot of speculation and false information spread about the circumstances around the kidnapping. The Moti family would like to clarify that no ransom was paid. The SAPS was integral to the safe return of our boys, and we are very grateful for their dedication in this regard. Unfortunately, we cannot provide further comment on this as these are sensitive details that pertain to the ongoing investigation.”
