On October 11, Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji, the CEO of MeTL, a family empire started by his father in the 1970s, was kidnapped in early Thursday morning, an incident which spread like a bush-fire on social media platforms.
A local daily in Tanzania reported that Dewji was kidnapped on his way to the Oysterbay hotel in Dar es Salaam for a routine gym exercise.
Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Paul Makonda issued a statement that the businessman was kidnapped by two men as he entered the hotel.
“They fired a gun and then they opened the gate,” Makonda said, adding that security personnel had started a search for Dewji.
In October 15, The family of kidnapped Tanzanian dollar billionaire offered a reward of a billion Tanzanian shillings (Sh44.1 million) for information leading to his rescue.
Mohamed dewji’s uncle, Azim Dewji, told a press conference that the family believed that the reward will help the police in the investigation.
“We, the Dewji family, want to assure anyone with the information about the whereabouts of our son to come forward and we will treat their information as secret,” he added.
The police at the time arrested 30 people in connection with the incident, believed to have been led by two white men.
On October 17, the police released 19 suspects out of 26 who were being held in connection with the abduction of Mohammed Dewji.
Lazaro Mambosasa, the Dar Es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander said, "The 19 suspects were released on bail after interrogations. “We are still questioning the remaining seven suspects," he said.
On October 20, The 43-year-old Tanzanian dollar billionaire Mohammed Dewji who had been kidnapped for 10 days in Dar es Salaam was found.
His uncle Azim Dewji and family spokesman confirmed to the press that he was safely at home and extended his hand of appreciation to all for their support during the entire period of the kidnap.
“I thank Allah that I have returned home safely. I thank all my fellow Tanzanians and everyone around the world for their prayers. I thank the authorities of Tanzania, including the Police Force for working for my safe return,” Mohammed Dewji said on Twitter.
Mr. Dewji, described by Forbes magazine as Africa's youngest worth $1.5b (Sh15.3 trillion) and Tanzania's only billionaire, was kidnapped by four masked men outside a swanky hotel gym in the affluent Oysterbay neighborhood, where he was going for his routine morning workout.
