A 36-year-old man who allegedly abducted his girlfriend and kept her tied to a tree in a field for eight days is expected to appear in the Stilbaai Magistrate’s Court, Cape Town police said on Thursday.
Karel Amsterdam will be facing charges of abduction and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm when he appears on Friday, spokesperson Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe said.
Amsterdam allegedly abducted Magdalene Arendse on December 28 last year and kept her tied to a tree until police found her on January 5 this year.
”Arendse’s sister told police that her sister was missing on January 5. A search was launched and when Amsterdam was asked about his girlfriend’s whereabouts, he showed police were he kept her,” Mangqwengqwe said.
When police went to the field, they found Arendse tied to a tree, with her hands and legs bound. ”She was dehydrated and had bruises and scratches which indicated she was assaulted.”
Mangqwengqwe said Arendse was taken to the Riversdale hospital for medical attention.
Amsterdam was arrested and appeared in the Riversdale Magistrate’s Court on January 8. He was remanded to January 12 for a bail application. — Sapa