Johannesburg - The mother of a Krugersdorp woman arrested under mysterious circumstances in Japan has dismissed speculation about her daughter’s possible involvement in wrongdoing.
Marilyn Massyn, a 36-year-old masseuse, sent her family into a state of panic when she disappeared in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on October 22.
Facebook groups to try to find her were seemingly unsuccessful until the Department of International Relations announced at the weekend that she has been found in a Japanese prison.
On Tuesday morning, department spokesman Nelson Kgwete told The Star that the department could not release the full story about why Massyn was being held, but more details would surface later.
He confirmed she was arrested immediately upon her arrival in Japan, and the department was communicating with her family.
On Tuesday morning Massyn’s mother, Angie, said media reports and speculation about why her daughter had been arrested were presumptuous, and refused to comment further, implying the news media had already made up its mind.
Speculation on radio talk shows has included comments that she may have been arrested as a drug mule.
The Weekend Argus reported that Massyn originally disappeared while visiting Abu Dhabi, then she resurfaced in Japan.
Her mother told the Weekend Argus that the family were relying on South African officials in Japan for more information.
“We heard last Thursday that she had been found, that she had been arrested and is in jail in Japan.
“We don’t know why.
“The South African embassy in Japan will let us know what’s happening.
“They didn’t tell me why she is in jail. All they said is that they were informed of her arrest.
“I would also like to hear what is going on, but I don’t want to interfere.
“They said they would let us know what happened.”
Massyn initially travelled from Joburg to Abu Dhabi, her mother said.
“She told me she was going away with a friend.”
However, after she did not hear from her and could not contact her, Angie began to worry and hired a private investigator to find her.
Angie also appealed for help on Facebook, where she posted a photograph of her daughter. That picture was reposted 3 500 times.
Angie said her daughter’s teenage son was anxious for news about his mother.
An Abu Dhabi newspaper, The National, reported that Massyn “transited through Abu Dhabi airport on October 22 and proceeded onwards to Japan”.
The Star