By Annisa Essack
10:05:2022

Ziyaad Asvat, son of Ebrahim Asvat, Lenasia’s CPF Chairperson, was arrested on alleged kidnapping and extortion charges.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda of SAPS spoke to Radio Islam International and confirmed the arrest of Ziyaad Asvat on Friday night after a warrant of arrest was issued against him. Netshiunda says he joins eight others who were arrested for the same crimes. He added that more charges could be included in the docket as the investigation is ongoing.

Ziyaad is said to be involved in extortion amounting to more than R 25 million from family members of those kidnapped.

On Monday, the suspect appeared in the Randburg Magistrates Court; however, the case was postponed to 19 May 2022, and he remains in custody.

Lieutenant Colonel Netshiunda said he didn’t want to speculate on whether Ebrahim Asvat was linked to the case, but the investigations were ongoing, and he was confident that further arrests would be made.

Radio Islam International contacted Ebrahim Asvat for comment, but he declined.

Initial reports referred to the suspect as Zaheer Asvat. However, SAPS has clarified that the suspect is, in fact, Ziyaad Asvat.

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