Dual SIMs and deception: Sameemah Jacobs' web of identities in baby Imaad abduction case

In a dramatic twist of events, alleged baby snatcher, Sameemah Jacobs, has been accused of presenting herself as at least three different people when abducting 9-day-old baby Mogamat Imaad Sharmar. 

Jacobs, 37, in turn said she suffers from bipolar disorder, as she was widely supported by her family at the Bellville Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, where she faces charges of kidnapping and defeating the ends of administrative justice.

Closing arguments in her much-anticipated bail application continued where Sergeant Dawid Fortuin presented new evidence, that of cellphone records, pertaining to the merits of the State's case.

Fortuin, from the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit for Kidnapping, took the witness stand armed with the evidential cellphone records, in which he detailed that they had confiscated cellphones from Jacobs following her arrest, one of which had a dual SIM.

He said the records showcased that three persons, namely a Sameemah, Wasiema, and Chevon Classen, had used three different cellphone numbers with three different IMEI numbers - alluding that the person in question was Jacobs who had represented herself as such.

He stated that the records showed that on June 18 and 19, the cellphone of Jacobs was found in the jurisdiction of the Mitchell's Plain District Hospital where the mother of baby Mogamat Imaad Sharmar, Imaan Sharmar, had given birth.

He said the cellphone records further showed that Jacobs had been in Strandfontein on June 28, the date of the kidnapping, and Chevon at Middestad mall in Bellville.

Fortuin added that queries with management about the the identity of Chevon, who claimed to work for an NPO, the Zoey Project, which assisted mothers, was confirmed to have no staff member with that name

Jacobs's lawyer Asongewa Mafuya dropped a bombshell when presenting his arguments as to why she was a candidate for bail.

He said Jacobs was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2023 and had three children, one of which was a minor aged seven years.

Mafuya said the State did not present evidence to prove that she would disturb or interfere with the matter, or that she was a flight risk.

He added that Jacobs's children were in the care of her friend while her 67-year-old mother was in hospital.

The magistrate asked the State to clarify who Chevon was.

"Was Chevon and Sameemah in the vehicle the day of the kidnapping?" he asked.

The State clarified that to the Uber driver Jacobs had been presented and to Sharmar, Chevon had been presented.

Fortuin stated that with the inquiry relating to another victim, that of a 15 year old girl, who was pregnant, they were waiting for vital video footage of her vehicle.

He said her arrest was imminent in that matter.

State prosecutor, Salaahuddeen Simon, presented arguments as to why Jacobs was not a candidate for bail, in which he cited that the public's trust in the justice system and that she could evade her trial and that she was a flight risk or could interfere or destroy evidence.

The matter was postponed for bail consideration to July 28.

Earlier, Fortuin detailed that a witness who visited Jacobs behind bars following her arrest, said she claimed she did not kidnap the infant but that she was given the baby by the mother whom she had given money and takkies.

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