Woman claims that alleged kidnappers wanted $250,000 from her husband and father-in-law

A 35-year-old woman was in tears today when she told the court that she and her 5-year-old daughter were kidnapped by the alleged robbers who then wanted $250,000 from her husband and father-in-law on the 27th of February 2017.

The woman is one of the witnesses in the case of Eroni Vaqewa who is charged with 2 counts of aggravated robbery, 2 counts of obtaining property by deception, one count of criminal intimidation and two counts of abducting with intent to confine a person.

The woman told the court that on the day of the incident she was abducted by men who wore masks.

It is alleged that Vaqewa in the company of others stole the assorted items, cash and the taxi of Ajay Kumar.

He then in the company of others allegedly threatened the security guard of property in Nausori in the Central Division.

Vaqewa in the company of others then allegedly abducted the 32-year-old woman who is now 35 and her 5-year-old daughter who is now 8 years old.

It is also alleged that Vaqewa in the company of others stole jewellery, cash and other assorted items from the woman.

She told the court that she and her 5-year-old daughter were thrown in a taxi and following this the men entered her house to take whatever they could.

The men then asked her to call her husband who wasn’t at home at the time, and demanded for ransom in exchange for their lives.

The woman said she was unable to call her husband and the men then asked her to call her father-in-law and demanded $250,000.

She then found out from the conversations of the accused persons that the driver of the taxi was tied up in the boot of the car.

The woman said the car was driven to World Harvest Centre where the accused persons left her, her daughter, and the driver in the car, taking away the keys of the vehicle.

With the help of the driver she managed to free herself and the driver after which the driver drove them back home.

She says this ordeal has affected her and her daughter mentally as her daughter refused to go back into her own home and they had to relocate to another place.