Cape Town - The three suspects accused of luring men on Grindr have abandoned their attempts to be released on bail, as they deal with outstanding warrants of arrests in Gauteng.
The three suspects accused of luring men on Grindr have abandoned their attempts to be released on bail, as they deal with outstanding warrants of arrests in Gauteng.
Mlungisi Vincent Mbutu, Bongani Zulu and Zwelakhe Ngwenya appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where they were expected to apply for bail.
The trio is accused of kidnapping, extortion, robbery with aggravating circumstances and cyber crimes.
They were arrested in Woodstock at a rental home, with a hostage tied up.
They were traced when the Hawks noticed strange transactions in the victim’s bank account. After their arrest, more victims came forward, alleging the trio also lured them using the Grindr dating app, before kidnapping, assaulting and robbing them.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said: “Their case has been postponed until 15 October 2024 for further investigation. That further investigation will include digital data analysis, which will assist us to add the cyber crime charges against the accused.
“Please note that we now have six charges against the accused as the results of the seventh identity parade were negative. The six cases are: one case in Woodstock, three in the CBD including Camps Bay, one Durbanville and one in Brackenfell.
“The State will no longer apply/ request a centralisation certificate, as it is no longer necessary to do so. All the cases will be tried at Cape Town Magistrate’s Court. All identity parades are done.”
Their lawyer, Nceba Jack, said the bail application was abandoned provisionally.
“The case is in Johannesburg, for which a warrant is issued out and we must go and cancel it and that is the reason we abandoned it.
“The date of the next appearance was very lengthy to November and we wouldn’t be in a position to monitor the investigation as we have seen one matter has been removed.”