Zambian woman involved in SA kidnapping and extortion syndicate

Police in South Africa have issued an arrest warrant for a Zambian living in South Africa, suspected to have kidnapped another Zambian.

Douglas Dale Police Station in Johannesburg are investigating Aissata Mwila, 26, for her alleged involvement in the kidnapping and disappearance of a Zambian national, 50-year-old Jeffrey Musonda of Itawa, Ndola.

Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba says it is regrettable that a Zambian national was named and involved in a dangerous kidnapping and extortion ring.

He said he was in touch with the Police and the family to help trace Musonda.

Police stated that Aissata Mwila has previously been involved in two other kidnapping and extortion cases which the Police have been investigating .

Musonda disappeared on August 4, 2018. He is allegedly to have been lured by Aissata Mwila who it is alleged that he befriended on social media.

Aissata Mwila is alleged to have invited Musonda to her house in Primrose Johannesburg.

The Police say the scam works by a woman luring a man to her house and then the “husband” turns up and finds them. The enraged husband then demands money from the victim.

Aissata Mwila

Police say Musonda was made to withdrawal R10,000.00 that night and family members were later contacted and they also made a deposit of another R10,000.00.

Police say bank video footage shows the money being withdrawn by a male suspect.

Since August, there has been no trace of Musonda, who had travelled to South Africa to celebrate his 50th birthday Anniversary.

Police interviewed Aissata Mwila and her husband shortly after this but the duo have since disappeared prompting the Police to issue an arrest warrant.

The Police have also advised the family to publish the case of missing person in national newspapers in South Africa and Zambia.

Mwamba says the High Commission to wrote to the South African to help especially in the fresh case of  Musonda.

He also says he fears for the life of Aissata Mwila as she was connected to a dangerous ring and that since police had identified her, she was the only lead to the other suspects.

He appealed to Aissata Mwila to wilfully surrender to the Police and help give information that would help find Musonda.