Durban — Two men accused of using Facebook to lure women to potential job opportunities face a raft of criminal charges in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court next month.
Ntuthuko Mbhense and his co-accused Sboniso Myeza, have been attending two separate courtrooms for two cases they are charged in, with regard to kidnapping, extortion, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and sexual assault.
While in attendance for the above case, where Mbhense had been out on R3 000, he was arrested for the second after being pointed out by the victim while in the dock.
He had been in the dock with Myeza, and a third accused, when he was pointed out by the victim.
In the second case, Mbhense and Myeza are alleged to have committed the offence in 2020 in Mariannhill, where it was alleged that the victim had responded to an advert on Facebook for a nanny job. She was fetched in a car by three men, including Mbhense, under the pretext they were taking her for an interview for the advertised employment.
It’s alleged the woman was tied up and held for a ransom demanded from her family. The victim was allegedly kept bound in the bush for a night, when one accused allegedly raped her.
She was reportedly taken to a house in Mariannhill, where she was forcefully given drugs and allegedly raped again.
Her family paid R2 000 ransom. Myeza has a third case against him, where he appears alongside his 18-year-old girlfriend, charged with kidnapping and robbery, where it’s alleged that last October the accused assaulted a woman, used force and violence and took her bank card, Sassa card, a cellphone and R2 000 in Mariannhill.
This week, Myeza and Mbhense appeared in the Regional Court in Pinetown along with a third accused, where it emerged that charges against the third accused and Myeza’s girlfriend were withdrawn.
Mbhense’s legal representative, Manoj Haripersad, outside court said previously the matter had been adjourned for a decision from the Director of Public Prosecutions, and this week a decision had been made to consolidate the charges against Myeza and Mbhese to be heard as one.
“It is likely on the next occasion, the matter will be adjourned.”
Daily News
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