A 47-year-old Phoenix woman is expected to appear in the Verulam Magistrate's Court this week after she allegedly faked her own kidnapping.
Police said the woman, who faces a charge of perjury, allegedly hatched the plan to demand money from her businessman husband.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the woman went to use a toilet at her home, which is a short distance away from her husband's business premises.
"The husband received a call from his wife, claiming that she had been kidnapped. She pleaded with him to deposit an undisclosed amount of money for her release. Few moments later the husband received another call from a man who threatened to hurt the woman if the money was not paid," Netshiunda said.
He said police investigations revealed that the woman had allegedly staged her own kidnapping and she was charged.
"Police are sending a strong warning to anyone who is contemplating to fake their own kidnappings for any reason or waste state resources by opening false cases, that they will be met with the flaming wrath of the law," he said.
Netshiunda said police had been working hard to decrease the number of kidnappings, which has seen an increase recently.
IOL