Doctor's Story Of Kidnapping

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30215, 21 August 1963, Page 15

Doctor's Story Of Kidnapping

IN Z P A -Reuter—Copyright) CAPE TOWN, August 2(1. The Cape Supreme Court will today hear a plea of habeas corpus for the release of Dr. Kenneth Abrahams, who claims he was kidnapped by South African police after reaching the British protectorate of Bechuanaland as a political refugee.

Dr. Abrahams, a coloured (mixed race) doctor '-om South-west Africa, wants to return to Bechua-naland He fled there af’er beine o rn tected from arrest in Southwest Africa by the coloured community tn Rehoboth Tn his oetition to the Court D- Abrahams said he and three companions eo’ered B-rehuanaland on July 23 and asked for asylum After re ceiving written nermits of asylum they left Ghanzi for Loba-’si “About one mile outside Ghanzi and still by estimation 100 miles from the Bechuanaland-South Africa border, the truck in which we were being conveyed was held up at gunpoint by six white men." his petition said “Leading the party . . were two men whom I later ascerta’ned— when they put on their uniforms—were members of the South African police”

Two of his were assaulted and hand cuffed and he was threatened with shooting if he resisted he said They were thexi returned bv back roads into Sou’h West Africa where he told the Magistrate before whom he appeared that he had been kidnapped The Judge yesterday adjourned the Court until today to hear the ease He said he wanted the habeas corpus papers served properly on the respondents. - -the Justice Minister Mr B Voyster: and *he officer-in charge of police holding Dr Ah-ahams in Cane T"wn The Judge also said ne would tike ‘hr A ’ tome v Gen <ral to be present today to say what enurse he planned to follow when Dr Abra hams appears m Court on August 27 charged with sabotage. Mr Vorster reiterated In

Pretoria yesterday that it was ‘sheer nonsense" to allege Dr Abrahams had been kidnapped by South African police A full report on the allegations has been sent by the British Consul in Cape Town to the Colonial Office in Lon don A copy has gone to the Bechuanaland Police Commissioner who is investigating how Dr Abrahams left the Protectorate