Fourth Suspect Arrested for 6-Year-Old Amy-Lee Kidnapping in South Africa

PRETORIA – South African Police have arrested a fourth suspect, and possibly the last one, wanted in connection with the kidnapping of 6-year-old Amy-Lee de Jager in Vanderbijlpark earlier this month.

Members from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit tasked with the investigation arrested a 24-year-old man today at Muvhango, an area just outside Vanderbijlpark, the police said in a statement.

Three suspects were arrested days after Amy-Lee was kidnapped outside her school and then found the following day, after the kidnappers abandoned their demand for a ransom of R2 million.

“We are satisfied that we have all the people responsible for the kidnapping of Amy Lee behind bars and the possibility of more arrests being effected is very unlikely,” the police said.

The three other suspects appeared in Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court last Friday, identified in news reports as Amy-Lee’s teacher Tharina Human, Laetitia Nel and Pieter van Zyl. It was reported that Human masterminded the kidnapping to pay off a drug lord she was indebted to.

The fourth accused would appear before a magistrate on Wednesday, the police said, and the prosecution would request he be remanded in custody until the 1 October, when he will reappear with the other three suspects for a formal bail application.