The three suspects in court.
Image: Nadia Khan
The three men arrested for the alleged kidnapping and brutal killing of a Newark family of seven have abandoned their bail application.
They appeared in the KwaDukuza Magistrate's Court today (Tuesday) and the case has been adjourned to June 23 for further investigation.
The family members - Alan and Sandy Monswamy, their children Kraidon and Shamarie, and relatives Cliffy Padayachee, Mooniamma Padayachee and Mariamma Appanah - were allegedly kidnapped from their home in Newark, on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, last Tuesday.
Their bodies were discovered in a secluded area near Melmoth the next day.
Following an intensive investigation by various law enforcement units, three suspects, aged 21, 26 and 28, were arrested last Wednesday afternoon.
At the time, the Office of the Provincial Commissioner said in a statement that a domestic helper who worked for the victims arrived at their home on Wednesday morning.
She found the house broken into, with the family and their vehicle missing.
“Newark police were summoned to the scene and various police units were activated. Swift police investigations led them to the Hlomendlini area where two suspects were arrested on Wednesday afternoon,” it read.
According to the statement, one of the suspects was found in possession of a cellphone belonging to one of the kidnapped victims.
“Information directed police investigations to the Dendetu area in Sundumbili where the third suspect was arrested. He was found in possession of a firearm. A total of 11 cellphones were found in the suspects’ possession.”
According to the statement, police uncovered that one of the suspects worked for the victims.
“He and his accomplices allegedly broke into the victims’ house, tied them up with a rope and one them allegedly raped the 20-year-old woman before loading them onto a vehicle belonging to one of the victims, and drove to Melmoth, a distance of approximately 200km from the scene.
“Police also unearthed that the same suspect who raped the 20-year-old at the house, raped her again in Melmoth, before demanding banking details and Personal Identification Numbers from three victims. After collecting the banking details, the suspects shot and killed three victims. The other four victims were brutally stabbed to death,” it read.
According to the state, the suspects led the police to Melmoth on Wednesday where the bodies of the seven victims were found.
The funeral of the seven family members was held at the Stanger High School’s sports ground on Sunday. Among those present at the funeral was KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, who joined the community in mourning the tragic loss.
Lindelani Mbatha, the spokesperson for the Office of the KZN Premier, confirmed that the provincial government funded the funeral.