ACCUSED APPEARS IN COURT AS WELL AS HIS ALLEGED VICTIMS
GAUTENG: An Ethiopian man, arrested by the Hawks in Joburg on Tuesday & initally accused of human trafficking, after being found to have been harbouring 12 half-naked alleged teenage boys, has been charged with 12 counts of kidnapping and one count of failing to stop on police instruction. He has appeared today, 9 January 2025 in the Booyzen’s Magistrate court after his case was postponed yesterday in order for the court to source an Americ interpreter. His case was postponed to the 14 January 2026 for him to source a legal representative and possible bail application.
Following his appearance, the twelve young adults also appeared in the same court on charges of being illegal on the country. Their case was also postponed to the 15 January 2026 for possible guilty pleas. The medical assessment has since established that the 12 weren’t necessarily teenagers as previously reported but young adults between ages of 22 and 33.
They were all remanded in custody.
