Six appear in court over alleged abduction of 22-year-old man in Edinburgh
Six in court on abduction and firearms charges after man allegedly taken
Six people have appeared in court on petition in connection with the alleged abduction of a man in Edinburgh last week.
Ashawn Studholme, Bugra Has, both 21, Achille Keita, 23, Mustafa Merghani, 22, Robert McKinney, 45, and 40-year-old Danielle Whyte, all appeared from custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday August 17.
Keita, of no fixed abode, Studholme, from Glasgow, Has and Merghani, both from Edinburgh, McKinney and Whyte, both from East Lothian, all faced allegations of abduction, assault to severe injury and intent to rob during the private hearing.
The six accused also faced three allegations under the Firearms Act 1968.
Has faced a single charge of possessing a bladed article in a public place, while Merghani is also accused of an offence of using a vehicle with no insurance under section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
All six made no plea to the charges and they were all remanded in custody.
The case against the six accused was committed for further examination.
The court appearance comes after police received a report that a man had allegedly been abducted in the Canonmills area of the Capital at around 10.30pm on Thursday, August 13.
A 22-year-old man was allegedly later traced in Longniddry, East Lothian, on Friday, 14 August, and taken to hospital as a precaution.
The A198 road was closed by officers between the village’s Coal Road and the junction with Cunningham Court while enquiries were carried out. The road was eventually reopened.
Following the alleged incident Detective Inspector Robbie Wallace, of Police Scotland, said: “We understand an incident of this nature will be concerning, but please be assured our enquiries are ongoing
“Police will remain in the Longniddry area while this investigation continues and anyone with any concerns, or information, can approach these officers.”