Man accused of kidnapping and raping woman denied bail

A man who kidnapped his neighbour has been charged with two counts of rape.

The 34-year-old Pietermaritzburg man who abducted his neighbour after lying to her that her dog had run away has been charged with two counts of rape.

He was also faces charges for kidnapping.

The accused appeared in the Pinetown magistrate’s court on Thursday.

Due to the rape charges, the identities of both the accused and the victim were withheld.

The investigating authority submitted an affidavit which contained reasons for the state’s opposition to bail during the court hearing.

However, defence attorney, Wesley Rodgers said they gave the state an affidavit that contained his client’s new address, which showed that his client had moved away from the victim’s neighborhood.

Rodgers said the charges of rape were opened at the Hillcrest police station on Monday while a case of kidnapping had been registered at the Mountain Rise police station.

Magistrate Queen Khuzwayo postponed the case hearing to August 20 for a formal bail application.

But, the accused will remain in custody at the Hillcrest police station.

The family of the 28-year-old woman raised an alarm last week Thursday when they discovered that she could not be reached.

Her flat in Allandale was unlocked and her cellphone switched off.

News of the woman’s disappearance was viral on social media before it was later changed to a case of kidnapping as a result of CCTV footage.

She was found unharmed at a bed and breakfast establishment in Durban on Saturday.

Police arrested the man on Sunday evening when he was found at a self-catering apartment in the Shelly Beach area on KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast.