Cops have nabbed a Mozambican national in Thailand who is suspected to be at the centre of an international crime syndicate behind the kidnapping of prominent Cape Town businessmen.
Despite the arrest, businessman Liyaqat Allie Parker, who was abducted earlier this month, is still missing.
STILL MISSING: Liyaqat Allie Parker, 65. Photo: Supplied
It was reported on Friday that Momade Assife Abdul Satar, who goes by the name of “Nini”, and dubbed “Mozambique’s most notorious assassin”, is alleged to have recruits in Cape Town who carry out kidnappings.
Parker, 65, the founder of the Foodprop Group, which owns the Foodworld supermarket chain, was abducted at his Parow business in Stairway Close in De Greens.
In July last year the owner of Zhauns Business Opportunity Machines, Sadeck Zhaun Ahmed, was kidnapped outside his business in Victoria Road, Salt River.
He was returned home after two months, and although there were reports that a ransom of R20 million was paid for his release, his family has denied it.
In August last year, 76-year-old Omar Carrim was abducted after leaving his business, Home Hyper City, in Pretoria.
Police later found his burnt-out Mercedes-Benz, and Carrim was released by his captors in December.
Nini was arrested in Thailand on Wednesday following an international warrant being put out for him, the Mozambican government said.
He left Mozambique while he was on parole in 2014, after ser-
ving time for the murder of journalist Carlos Cardoso in 2000.
Cardoso had exposed large-scale corruption in the country, and fingered the son of the president Joaquim Chissano.
In a Mozambican government statement, an unnamed official said Nini had travelled on a fake passport and name.
When police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana was asked to comment on a possible link between Nini and the kidnappings of local businessmen, she said: “Kindly be advised that this office is unable to divulge finer aspects of the on-going investigation.”
Parker’s family spokesperson, Walid Brown, did not respond to queries on Sunday.
A source close to the family says Parker was still missing.
“The family is relieved at the arrest, and are more hopeful that Liyaqat will be found alive and well, but no new contact has been made by the kidnappers.”