Pietermaritzburg - A Bangladeshi citizen who was charged with the kidnapping and robbery of another Bangladeshi businessman is reserving his right to sue the state for wrongful arrest.
The man’s defence attorney, Kameel Jagernath, said on Monday: “My client was arrested and spent seven days in jail, after which the charges against him were withdrawn.”
Miah was detained during the month of Ramadaan.
The Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court withdrew charges of kidnapping and robbery against 42-year-old Ibrahim Miah last week.
He was charged with kidnapping Bangladeshi businessman Jashid Hoosen in Northdale on June 22 and with rob- bing Belayet Hoosen at the shop in Old Greytown Road.
The State had alleged that Belayet Hoosen was threatened with a firearm and his hands were tied during the robbery.
An amount of R20 000 in cash, four cellphones, R8 000 worth of cellphone airtime and R12 000 worth of cigarettes as well as a camera and computer were allegedly taken.
All the charges were withdrawn, but Miah is still in custody for allegedly being in the country illegally.
His civil claim against the state for wrongful arrest will depend on whether he will be allowed to remain in the country and apply for a visa or whether he is deported.
Miah appeared in court on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the kidnap victim, Jashid Hoosen, 24, was found in Gauteng at the weekend and returned to Pietermaritzburg after his two-week ordeal.
Hoosen was held in a house in Kempton Park, Gauteng, for 13 days without food and under guard by four armed men, believed to be Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals.
He said his captors had demanded R1 million in ransom from his family in Bangladesh.
Hoosen’s brother received information that he was being held captive in the area.
One man has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and will appear in court this week.
Daily News