A South African woman and her lover have been charged with staging a fake kidnapping after the woman was reported missing by her husband. The woman sent voice messages claiming she had been abducted, but was later spotted gambling in a casino in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
The husband contacted security firm Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) after receiving the voice messages, leading to a regional manhunt as a missing person case was reported to authorities. Several callers informed officers that the woman was allegedly involved in an extramarital affair and had faked the kidnapping to be with her lover. Additional information revealed that the woman was seen driving alone in her car hours after the alleged hijacking.
Authorities eventually tracked the woman down at overnight accommodation in Newcastle, where she was seen on video gambling at a casino. She claimed to authorities that the supposed kidnappers had dumped her at the side of the road. The woman and her lover had planned to dispose of their car, but surrendered to the police when they realized they were being pursued.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda stated that the woman claimed to have been hijacked in Verulam and locked in the trunk of her car, where she managed to send voice notes to her husband. Intelligence revealed that prior to the fake kidnapping, the woman had spent time at a casino.
The pair will be charged with defeating the course of justice and are expected to appear in court. The incident highlights the consequences of attempting to deceive authorities and manipulate situations for personal gain. It serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of honesty and integrity in all aspects of life.