[imagesource:twitter/news24]

One of the accused in the kidnapping of Riana Pretorius has hinted at her, and her boyfriend’s, involvement in her own kidnapping.

This claim was made in an affidavit submitted to the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court on Thursday afternoon during the bail hearing for the two accused.

Xolani Kafile, as well as his co-accused, Xolisile Rawutini, maintain that they had nothing to do with the abduction of the Gqeberha biokineticist. According to Kafile, the details of the case “appear to be much more than meets the eye.”

“There are too many questions that arise as to who the persons are behind this, what and where this conspiracy was planned to extort money and whether there are other suspects that have close relationships with the complainant or whether she was part and parcel of this conspiracy.”

Kafile hinted at media headlines regarding Pretorius’s now ex-boyfriend and his mounting financial troubles. He goes on to say:

“It was put in the public domain that the boyfriend failed to pay R3.5 million in costs and that he was sequestrated as well as the fact that the complainant and her father refused to testify in the inquiry. The reason why I am referring to the financial woes of the boyfriend is because this case of kidnapping and extortion is mentioned in the same breath in the reports.”

Despite apparently trying to cast shade elsewhere, Kafile also said that he has a metal plate in his leg, and can not walk properly, never mind run away from the stolen vehicle as the culprits did when found by police in Deal Party.

The 26-year-old biokineticist was safely returned to her family on 24 March after being held for an R2,2 million ransom.

Kafile and Rawutini face charges of kidnapping, trafficking of persons, and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Whether this ‘mention’ of the boyfriend is just a ploy to detract SAPS from doing a proper investigation is unsure, but then again, it is SAPS, so…

The plot sickens.

[source:news24]