A 19-year-old woman, who was alleged to have been kidnapped in Bushenyi, western Uganda, five days ago, has been found by police in Kampala City in a case detectives said was an extortion ploy.
Peace Ansimire, 19, a daughter of Reverend Fred Muhwezi, was found by Flying Squad Unit operatives at Kawaala near Kasubi, Rubaga Division in Kampala City.
Peace Ansimire, 19, a daughter of Reverend Fred Muhwezi, was found by Flying Squad Unit operatives at Kawaala near Kasubi, Rubaga Division in Kampala City.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman, Mr Luke Owoyesigire, said two male suspected kidnappers, who demanded a ransom of Shs3.5m, were arrested in the same operation and are detained at Kampala Central Police Station.
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“We have found out that one of the suspects was dating the suspected kidnap victim. The woman and her lover connived to get money from her parents through pretense that she had been kidnapped. They intended to use the Shs3.5m ransom to start a business and later get married,” Mr Owoyesigire said yesterday.
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“We have found out that one of the suspects was dating the suspected kidnap victim. The woman and her lover connived to get money from her parents through pretense that she had been kidnapped. They intended to use the Shs3.5m ransom to start a business and later get married,” Mr Owoyesigire said yesterday.
However, the suspects and suspected victim were not well coordinated in the ploy and when the police used a tracking system and a bait, they were able to be traced and arrested.
Flying Squad Unit operatives sent the suspected kidnappers Shs750,000 and when they withdrew it, the operatives quickly surrounded the area and arrested the duo.
“We recovered Shs250,000 of the ransom with the two suspects,” Mr Owoyesigire said.
“We recovered Shs250,000 of the ransom with the two suspects,” Mr Owoyesigire said.
The duo revealed where the alleged victim was and she was rescued.
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During interrogation, the suspects told police officers that they willingly moved with the alleged victim from Bushenyi to Kampala City. The victim also didn’t contradict the suspects.
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During interrogation, the suspects told police officers that they willingly moved with the alleged victim from Bushenyi to Kampala City. The victim also didn’t contradict the suspects.
Mr Owoyesigire said the two male suspects are being held on kidnap charges.
He said the detectives are still consulting on whether to charge the victim.
The case is one of the latest incidents in which people connive with other people to extort money in form of a ransom from their relatives on pretence that they are kidnapped.
He said the detectives are still consulting on whether to charge the victim.
The case is one of the latest incidents in which people connive with other people to extort money in form of a ransom from their relatives on pretence that they are kidnapped.
Last week, Mariam Uwase, 21, staged her own kidnap with the intention of extorting Shs25m from her boyfriend. Flying Squad operatives used a Shs700,000 bait to track the suspects and the signal led them to an apartment where she was peacefully staying.
Three similar incidents have been reported in Western region in the last one month.
Cases of kidnaps for ransom are still high in the country.
Cases of kidnaps for ransom are still high in the country.
Suzan Magara was kidnapped, killed and body dumped on Entebbe Express Highway despite her kidnappers getting a Shs700m ransom.
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Early this month, a baby was also killed in Western region even after a ransom was paid.
In Wamala region, police have recorded at least five kidnap cases.
The latest happened two weeks ago, when two men kidnapped a 2-year-old baby before demanding a Shs5m ransom in Mubende Township.
A ransom was paid and the kidnappers released the baby, but later they used the ransom to party in a local bar where they revealed the crime they committed after they got drunk.
Bar goers tipped the police and Umar Yiga and Yoweri Mugwanya were arrested. Police recovered a faction of the ransom money.
A ransom was paid and the kidnappers released the baby, but later they used the ransom to party in a local bar where they revealed the crime they committed after they got drunk.
Bar goers tipped the police and Umar Yiga and Yoweri Mugwanya were arrested. Police recovered a faction of the ransom money.