On Sunday, 9 January, police confirmed that the Moti family insisted on getting an interdict so that police cannot interview them after the four brothers had been returned home.
The family is said to be in the United Arab Emirates at the moment. However, it is not clear whether they have emigrated or just visiting.
The Moti brothers’ father refused police interviews
The Moti brothers were kidnapped in October and returned unharmed three weeks later.
However, while confirming the news, police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Netshiunda revealed that the family had refused for anyone to interview the boys – Zidan, Zayyad, Alaan and Zia.
“On the night the children were found, the father said, ‘You are not coming close to me or my kids, I am opting to get an interdict’, which he did. After that, he left the country. He left before we could do anything.”
Police are trying to convince the family to cooperate
Netshiunda continued by saying that the investigation is still open as the police, while respecting the family’s right to withdraw the case, are still trying to get the Moti family’s cooperation.
“In South Africa, everyone has rights. Why do we have to contest an order where someone says, I don’t want to talk to you? As the police, our [job] is to do an investigation, and in our country, someone can open a case and withdraw it legally so, what can we do as the police? We are trying to persuade the family to cooperate because we are not giving up [on] the case. We are investigating.”
Speculations around the “gang” responsible arise
Anti-crime activist, Yusuf Abramjee, voiced his thoughts on the case and mentioned how “dangerous” the gang must be.
“It is certainly a dangerous gang. We know they have heavy fire [weapons], and they had two or three vehicles when they took the children. They were brazen.”
He further stated that it was irresponsible for the Moti family to not put a stop to the crimes.
“The failure by the family to speak to the police will allow this gang to continue to cause tyranny and target other families.”
The family is very, very strange. I don’t recall a kidnapping case where the family got an interdict so that police cannot interview them.”