Kidnappers freed Africa’s youngest billionaire early Saturday morning after his abductors, believed to be South African mercenaries, held him for a week without collecting any ransom.
Tanzanian authorities are now combing the Toyota SUV used to snatch billionaire Mohammed Dewji as he headed to the gym on Oct. 11.
He got dumped on a golf course in Dar es Salaam Saturday at about 1 a.m. local time, cops said. His kidnappers escaped.
The 43-year-old tycoon, a former member of Parliament known throughout the East African country as “Mo,” had bruises on his hands and feet from being tied up. He was wearing a T-shirt and workout pants, and appeared disheveled in a video released by police.
But the CEO of the MeTL Group conglomerate was in otherwise good health when he was found, about three miles from the swank fitness club where he worked out.
Dewji’s surprise return in the middle of the night only added to the mystery of his disappearance.
The celebrity entrepreneur, worth $1.5 billion according to Forbes, got released hours after local authorities said they identified the owner of the car used to kidnap him, and that the vehicle entered the country on Sept. 1.
“We already had the identities of the owner of the vehicle and the driver,” said Simon Sirro, the police inspector general. “We were already very close on their trail. Interpol was also investigating the case.”
His kidnappers apparently tried to set the Toyota on fire before they fled the Gymkhana Club Golf Course, where they dumped Dewji.
“They were trying to get rid of the evidence, but they failed,” Sirro said. The kidnappers left four guns – an AK 47 and three pistols, along with rounds of ammunition, in the vehicle.
After his return, Dewji told authorities the kidnappers wanted money, but they were afraid, despite being heavily armed.
“He asked them several times how much they wanted, but they gave no figure,” Sirro said. Dewji also told investigators the kidnappers were communicating in English and one of the local languages from South Africa, but “little Swahili,” the national language of Tanzania.
A source told Forbes Africa that Dewji said he was only taken about 20 minutes away from where he was abducted, which means he was likely in Dar es Salaam the whole time.
Regional Police Chief Lazaro Mambosasa told a local newspaper 12 suspects were in custody, including the security manager of the hotel and gym where he was grabbed.
Experts said signs point to Dewji’s kidnappers being South African mercenaries.
“White South African males involved in armed operations on the African continent tends to usually imply one thing and one thing only: Guns for hire,” tweeted Ryan Cummings‚ director of African risk management company Signal Risk.
He suggested it could be former South African National Defence Force members “who are now selling their expertise to the highest bidder.”
