Kidnap suspect's family angry over bail

Johannesburg - The bail application of the man accused of trying to abduct an 18-year-old girl outside a Florida school was postponed in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Magistrate John Baloyi put the matter off to November 15 to decide on bail. Mohammed Adams, 21, would remain in custody until then.

Adams' family was visibly upset outside court, but had no comment. They would release a statement at the next trial date.

Adams' father, who did not want to be named, said the family could only see him twice a week. He said he saw no reason why bail should not be granted.

'He must be punished'

The girl's mother commented that trials always took too long.

"They can't let him go free... He needs to be punished," she said.

The teenager's mother maintained her daughter had done nothing wrong and asked why Adams was outside a school so early if he had a wife and child at home.

The trial was previously postponed for an identity parade to be held.

Investigating officer Boitumelo Mareko testified on Friday that Adams was identified in the parade.

Fazal Dawood, for Adams, argued he would question the parade's merit during the trail.

Adams was arrested last month for attempting to abduct the girl outside the Hoërskool Die Burger.

Threatened girl with screwdriver

The court heard last week that the school security guard, the only eyewitness, had seen the girl being dropped off at school by her parents at 05:45.

The guard had told Mareko that Adams arrived a short while later in a silver car. He got out of the car, opened the boot, took out a screwdriver and approached the girl.

Mareko said Adams started pulling her by her elbow and jersey towards his car and she started screaming. The security guard approached the two and shouted at Adams, who got into his car and drove away.

A description of him, his car and number plate was given to police. When police interviewed Adams, he "acknowledged that he was at the school at the time", said Mareko.

The car was searched, but only newspapers and a pair of jeans were found inside.

Police explained the allegations to Adams and then arrested him. Adams' father and sister, who also spoke to reporters after the proceedings, said he had a wife and a 2-month-old baby.

The Florida high school, on the West Rand, was the same one Louise de Waal, 16, went to.

De Waal was abducted while on her way to the school on Wednesday, October 12. A burnt body, believed to be hers, was found on a farm in Magaliesburg later that day.

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