Five Foreign Nationals Arrested For Kidnapping Of 9-Year-Old Laudium Boy

Five suspects, including Pakistani and Afghan nationals, are set to appear in court on Wednesday for the second time in connection with the kidnapping of a nine-year-old boy in Laudium.

Court Proceedings and Charges

Afghan national Maisa Hussain (24) and Pakistan nationals Gulfam Azam (29), Yasir Mahmood (29), Bilawal Arif (30), and Faisal Khuoot (30) were initially brought before the Atteridgeville Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. Their case was postponed to January 29, 2025, to allow for a foreign-language interpreter.

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According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, the accused face charges of:

• Kidnapping
• Unlawful possession of an unlicensed firearm
• Unlawful possession of ammunition
• Extortion

The NPA commended the swift action by the SAPS, which ensured the safe recovery of the child and the arrest of the suspects.

Details of the Kidnapping

Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo stated that the boy was kidnapped on January 21, 2025, from a friend’s home in Laudium. His parents, originally from Afghanistan, received ransom demands from the kidnappers.

After a four-day search, a specialised team comprising SAPS and private security personnel tracked down the suspects.

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Authorities located the vehicle used in the kidnapping and arrested two suspects. These arrests led police to a house in Danville, Pretoria, where the boy was found unharmed. Two additional suspects were arrested at the scene, and a fifth suspect, who was reportedly known to the victim’s family, was later apprehended.

Masondo confirmed that the suspects were found with an unlicensed firearm and were in the country illegally. The boy was taken for medical observation before being reunited with his family.

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