Two Johannesburg men who demanded a ransom for a man whose body had already been found have been arrested and hurled before a court on a murder rap.
Murder accused 25-year-old Jason Theodore Boyers and 48-year-old Shannon Kevin Smith appeared before the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The pair are accused of the murder of 55-year-old Frans Mazuse.
Boyers and Smith also face charges of robbery with aggravated circumstances, extortion, corruption, kidnapping, theft, and possession of the stolen property.
It is alleged that a week ago Boyers and Smith contacted Mazuse, who agreed to meet them at an arranged location.
When Mazuze failed to return home after the meeting his family reported him missing to the police.
Police investigations led them to a nearby field in Kliptown, where they found Mazuze’s body. The family was inforned that Mazuze had been murdered.
In a bizarre twist of events after the body was found, the suspects demanded a R20 000 ransom from the grieving family claiming they would release Mazuze once the money was handed over to them.
The matter was reported to the police and referred to Hawks in Johannesburg.
Assisted by police Crime Intelligence, and a Tactical Response Team, the Hawks arrested Boyers and Smith in Noordgesig, Soweto on Sunday, 31 October.
Upon searching the accused, police recovered the deceased’s cellphone.
Boyers and Smith were remanded in custody.
They are expected to apply for bail on Friday, 12 November 2021.
