By Obakeng Maje
Hartbeesfontein- Police have arrested five accused on allegations of kidnapping and attempted murder of a 22 year-old victim, Jan Lephadi at Tigane Township at about 03:00.

They appeared in Hartbeesfontein Magistrate’s Court on and the case was postponed to 4 February 2014 for bail application.

“It is alleged that the accused Mangaliso Bonde(29), Zamani Bonde (26),George Bonde(32),Thembi Xandibe (23) and William Sitele,(19) went to Lephadi’s house and accused him of breaking into their house. They searched the house, and when they could not get anything, they allegedly  assaulted the victim with fists and a knobkerrie and dragged him out of his home to his grandmother’s place to give them the alleged stolen property” captain Pelonomi Makau said.

When they could not find anything,two of the five suspects locked the victim in the boot of the car and drove with him to the nearest bush in the area where they allegedly poured petrol over him and thereafter set him alight.

“The victim managed to take off his t-shirt, rolled on the ground to extinguish the fire that had consumed him. It is alleged that the victim was badly burnt from his head and back” Makau said.

Police said the suspects drove back to the victim’s house and his sister alerted the police and the Emergency services who transported him to the hospital with serious injuries and a badly swollen face.

Suspects were later arrested.-TDN
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