: The father of 14 year old Azeera Barath, who was reported kidnapped to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA)){kind=link}
KwaZulu Natal (Esnembe): The father of 14-year-old Azeera Barath, who was reported kidnapped to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), has been arrested for Human Trafficking and Wastage of State Expenditure.
The man reported to the RUSA Operations Centre on Monday (05/02/2024) that his daughter was dragged into a sugar cane plantation by a known foreign national. During the interview, the father requested that the South Africa Police Service (SAPS) not be involved in this matter.
Reaction Officers convinced him to report the incident due to the seriousness of the crime while Reaction Officers searched for the victim. A case was eventually registered with the SAPS.
During the investigation, Reaction Officers were interviewed by Police Officers from Provincial Specialised Units. RUSA Members confirmed that during their investigation, the sequence of events, as detailed by the father, appeared suspicious.
Reaction Officers further advised that during their investigation, they found that Azeera Barath had posted a picture on her social media page with the kidnapping suspect. Reaction Officers also shared more sensitive information regarding this matter with the Police (information withheld).
The RUSA Operations Center also received approximately 47 tip-offs and information relating to this matter within a few days.
SAPS Officials from the KwaDukuza FCS and Umhlali SAPS Search & Rescue Unit located the female at an informal area in Redcliffe – KZN, and a suspect was arrested on Saturday (10/02/2024). During the investigation, it was established that the father had trafficked his daughter and had encouraged a relationship in exchange for a reward. He is being charged with Human Trafficking and Wastage Of State Expenditure.
He is currently in custody at the Umhlali SAPS. Residents are asking for strict action against the after as human trafficking is a serious crime, and the cherry on the top is trafficking to your own daughter.
“Omg, the father needs to be punished severely for human trafficking his own daughter. Work of the devil,” said one of the residents.