Following allegations of swindling pilgrims out of Umrah packages to Saudi Arabia, Western Cape police arrested New Age Travel agency owner Shahied Davids after he landed at Cape Town International Airport on Sunday.
This comes after approximately 34 pilgrims, who spent over R50 000 on packages, were left stranded at the airport in December after discovering that the implicated travel agency had failed to cover the expenses of their flights.
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The 58-year-old travelled back from Doha, landing before 6pm when he was met by a crowd of defrauded victims and their families who were waiting for him at the airport’s international arrivals wing.
Footage of his arrival was shared widely on social media platforms, showing Davids being confronted by an angry crowd asking for the return of their money shortly after walking through the international arrivals door.
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Despite trying to continue leaving the wing, Davids can be seen, in some videos, being pulled and handled by members of the group. At one stage, a woman tries to hit him over the head with her handbag.
Police soon had to intervene as anger ran high and the crowd grew rowdy. Davids was arrested on suspicion of theft under false pretence shortly after the confrontation.
In addition to accusations of failing to pay for airline tickets, New Age Travel Agency stands accused of failing to offer proper refunds.
It was previously reported that Davids denied any wrongdoing, saying travellers would be refunded for trips by the end of January.
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TV Talk show host and human rights activist, Faizal Sayed, told IOL that this is not the first time people have been swindled by a travel agent.
Before Davids’ arrival, Sayed took to his social media platforms to voice his solidarity for people going to the airport to confront Davids but he urged the public to refrain from violence and rather use their hands to write out statements to file charges against him.
‘Use your hands to lay the charges because I am telling you that we are dealing with this crook for very long. He is a repeat offender and if you, those who are robbed yet again, do not proceed by using the law, then you are failing the community that he will rob in the future just like he robbed you,’ wrote Sayed.
National Freedom Party MP Ahmed Manzoor Shaik Emam, who has been receiving complaints from many people about Davids, welcomed the arrest, reported News24.
‘When he landed, the people tried to assault him, and then they arrested him and took him to Grassy Park [police station],’ Emam said.
The publication reported that Davids has subsequently been moved from Grassy Park, given the threats made against him.
‘His passport has been confiscated because he is a flight risk,’ Emam added.
Having spoken to Davids while he was abroad, Emam claimed he did not show remorse. ‘He was trying to defend all the wrong things he had been doing,’ he said.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the arrest, saying that the Commercial Crime Unit is investigating the docket.
Davids is expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court once charged.
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