Kidnap accused remain in custody

By: ADAM HARTMAN

THE two suspects who were arrested at Swakopmund last week on kidnapping and extortion charges were refused bail when they appeared in the town’s magistrate’s court yesterday.

Veyonne Beukes (23) and her cousin, Dylan Stramis (18), both from Windhoek’s Khomasdal suburb, were ordered to remain in custody until Friday when the investigation is expected to be completed.
Last Thursday, they allegedly kidnapped a nine-year-old girl, who will be identified only as Pauline, while she was riding her bicycle along Strand Street from town to her home in Vineta.
Beukes and Stramis allegedly approached her and asked her to show them the way to a coffee shop.
While they were driving around town with the girl, Beukes allegedly sent SMS messages to her mother, demanding a ransom of N$30 000 for her safe return.
Bullet Security in Swakopmund and the Police worked together with the information they received from the parents and Beukes and Stramis were arrested at the arranged spot where the ransom was to be paid.
Beukes was represented in court by Eugene Thomas, and Stramis by Geroy September. Magistrate Bernhard Tjatjara presided, with Seredine Jacobs representing the State.

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