UPDATE | Court appearance for Kariega man who staged his own kidnapping rolled over

Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson, Captain Yolisa Mgolodela, has confirmed that the court appearance of the 52-year-old man who allegedly orchestrated his kidnapping in Kariega has been rescheduled to tomorrow, April 24.

He is being charged with defeating the ends of justice and extortion.

The charges against the man come after the complainant, also the suspect wife, on Tuesday, April 16 at 16:00 allegedly received a phone call from her husband's number. The person on the other side of the line, according to Mgolodela, apparently told the woman that her husband was not coming home and that she should not contact the police.

"It is further alleged that the complainant acted contrary to the instruction and informed the nearest police station," Mgolodela said earlier this week. 

The complainant received a ransom demand of R60 000 a few days later, said Mgolodela. 

As the UD Express reported, the Hawks apprehended the suspect on Saturday, April 20, at his cousin's residence in Kariega, where he was hiding under wooden pallets.