The family of Justin van Pletzen – the South African who confronted Ajay Gupta outside the Indian consulate in Dubai and who is now under investigation by that country’s authorities – say that‚ while they are concerned about their brother‚ they are not panicking.
“Worried? What do you think? He’s my brother. But we are not panicking‚” said Van Pletzen’s brother Sebastian‚ who also works and lives in Dubai.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) maintains the South African is in custody – and that they are sending consular officials there every day to check up on him.
On Thursday‚ Justin’s phone went directly to voicemail. Sebastian van Pletzen‚ speaking to Times Select on Thursday from Dubai‚ said the family understood that Justin had not been arrested but that he was under investigation.
“Yes‚ there is an investigation by UAE authorities‚ because a law on videoing people in that country has been broken‚ but I can assure you my brother has not been arrested or charged.”
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