A first year Medical Student at the University of Zambia has been apprehended by police in Lusaka for allegedly faking an abduction, after he lost money through online gambling.
20-year-old Zakaria Haringa of Kafue District asked his friends to call his father for ransom of K80, 000 to secure his purported release.
Zakaria Haringa, while acting together with two juveniles aged 17 and 18, faked an alleged abduction to extort money from his father after squandering the funds he had received through betting on his cellphone.
On July 23, 2024, at 20:00 hours, Mr. Steven Haringa, aged 41, of house number 3031 Kaseba Site and Service, Kafue, reported that his son, Mr. Zakaria Haringa, aged 20, a first-year medical student at UNZA, was alleged to have been abducted by unknown persons.
According to Mr. Steven Haringa, his son was lodging at a private boarding house near UNZA. On July 20, 2024, he attempted to contact his son, but his calls went unanswered. On July 23, 2024, around 19:00 hours, he received a phone call demanding K80,000 for the release of his son.
The alleged abductors threatened to harm Mr. Zakaria Haringa if the money was not paid and sent a short video showing him being tortured.
Police Public Relations officer, Rae Hamoonga, has confirmed the development and he has since condemned the deceptive actions, adding that such actions are a waste of valuable police resources, and also causing unnecessary distress to families.
