Conflicting reports on 'kidnap' of Islamic scholar's grandson

Conflicting reports on the alleged kidnapping of the grandson of well-known professor and Islamic scholar Shaykh Yusuf da Costa, who was believed to have been kidnapped on Monday, have surfaced following his return home.

While his family has said that Muhammed arrived home in the early hours of Tuesday morning traumatised and visibly shaken, Western Cape police say the man was found on Monday afternoon "driving in his car". 

Muhammed's father Shamiel Yusuf da Costa told News24 he received a call from his son at 00.30 am from a pharmacy in Bellville.

"He managed to escape between Paarl and Worcester," he said.

Muhammed left home about 07:45 on Monday morning. An hour later his family received an SMS from his number saying someone had kidnapped him and demanded that R10,000 be deposited into his account, or he would be killed.

The alleged kidnappers had not given a deadline for the ransom payment, Shamiel said.

On Tuesday Shamiel told News24 that Muhammed had been kidnapped in his car. The kidnappers drove around with him in the car. At one point Muhammed asked if he could relieve himself. As the kidnappers escorted him to an open field, he sprinted and fled from them.

However, Western Cape police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk told News24 that Muhammed had been found on Monday afternoon in Bellville.

"He was found yesterday [Monday] afternoon already. In his own car, driving around Bellville."

Van Wyk said the matter was under investigation and that no arrests had been made.

Describing his son's state when he saw him, Shamiel said Muhammed was traumatised.

"He is very traumatised. [When he saw me] he wouldn't let go of me at all. As time went by he got better. When he saw his daughter, she is two weeks old, he was much better. He is sleeping now." The two will go to the police station later on Tuesday to submit a statement, Shamiel said.

Source: News24