A Cape Town businessman has been kidnapped outside his business in Epping on Monday morning.
It’s alleged that Mohammed Noor Karriem, 64, the owner of Giant Sweets and Sweets For Africa was abducted by unknown suspects outside Sweets For Africa in Christian Avenue, Epping.
It is believed Karriem was dragged from his car and tossed into an unknown vehicle just before 11am.
Mohammed Noor Karriem, 64, the owner of Giant Sweets and Sweets For Africa, was allegedly abducted by unknown suspects outside his business on Monday morning. Picture supplied
While police remain tight-lipped regarding the incident, at this stage it is still unclear whether Karriem’s kidnappers have made any ransom demands.
Police spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Andre Traut would only confirm the kidnapping.
"Kindly be advised that the circumstances surrounding a kidnapping case are being investigated after a 64-year-old businessman was forcefully removed from his business in Epping this morning at around 10:45 by unknown.
“The finer aspects of the case cannot be disclosed at this stage," Traud said.
Noor Mohammed Karriem of Giant Cash & Carry has reportedly been kidnapped in Cape Town.
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) September 23, 2019
This incident is the latest in a string of kidnappings of wealthy businessmen in the city.
In July last year, Cape Town businessman Liyaqat Parker, 65, was allegedly kidnapped by five unknown and armed men at his business in N1 City, Parow.
He was returned to his family in September, with then Community Safety MEC Dan Plato saying at the time the 65-year-old’s release was the result of “large sums of extortion money” being paid by the family.
Bangladeshi businessman Mustapha Goolam, from Lotus River, was kidnapped from Food Town in December 2016 and a ransom was set at R11m.
A badly beaten Goolam was found in Khayelitsha two days later. Five people, including a police reservist, were arrested.
A wealthy Cape Town businessman, Naushad Deshmukh Khan, 46, was also kidnapped in October 2016.
The Athlone businessman was found in Thornton at the end of December and had to receive medical attention, police said.
Deshmukh was allegedly snatched outside his clothing business, Khan's in Hadji Ebrahim Crescent, by a group of armed people who bundled him into a delivery vehicle.
This is a developing story.
*Additional reporting by the Cape Times