By Kaya 959 News
Police have arrested 10 men in connection with a cash-in-transit robbery in Mooinooi in the North West.
National SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Brenda Muridili, said police also confiscated four vehicles, stained cash and 12 firearms and ammunition.
She said the cash van was forced off the road by an Audi sedan while travelling on the Majakaneng Bridge.
“The suspects then allegedly forced open the vehicle. While the suspects were accessing the money from the cash van, the escort vehicle driver engaged the suspects resulting in a shootout, no injuries were reported,” Muridili said.
She said the gang then hijacked a vehicle in the vicinity and fled the scene in an unknown number of vehicles with an undisclosed amount of money as well as two firearms taken from the security guards.
Muridili said the hijacked vehicle was later found abandoned just after Mokolokwe turn-off on the R556, Sun City road, together with a white BMW.
“The station immediately implemented the 72-Hour Activation Plan where all the necessary resources were mobilised. A team composed of members from Public Order Police, Boitekong Visible Policing, Operational Command Centre and Mounted Unit embarked on a manhunt for the perpetrators,” she said.
READ: WATCH: Dramatic attempted cash-in-transit heist caught on tape
Cash, rifles, cars confiscated
The team managed to locate and arrest 10 suspects and confiscated a Lexus, an Audi, a Volkswagen Caravelle and Hyundai minibus.
“They also found stained cash as well as six rifles, six pistols and ammunition.
All suspects will be appearing in Brits Magistrates Court within 48 hours on charges of aggravated robbery, hijacking, possession of explosives, possession of suspected stolen money and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition,” Muridili said.
Cops arrested over bribe
In a separate matter, three police investigators, who allegedly solicited a R25 000 bribe from a rape suspect, have been arrested.
Hawks spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, Sergeant Bonisile Daphney Mjali, 45, Sergeant Xolani Howard Nxumalo, 37, and Constable Thulisile Patricia Mkhatshwa, 35, are officers attached to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit.
She said the trio have since appeared in the Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption.
The officers allegedly told the suspect that they could make his case ‘go away’ in exchange for R25 000.
“Instead of arresting the suspect, the accused phoned him and told him that she is investigating a case against him, but in order for him not to be arrested and for the case to be cancelled, he must pay R25 000,” Sekgotodi said.
READ: Cops still searching for four gang members following brazen M1 robbery
The officers then drove to the suspect’s offices where they demanded the money. He told them he could only come up with R5000.
“They instructed him to put the money inside the state vehicle that they were driving and told him that they spoke to the prosecutor, and he said he can pay an extra R10 000 to make it R15 000,” she said.
The accused then reported the officers to the Hawks.
An undercover operation was conducted by officers from the Hawks and the three officers were arrested.
They have been released on R3000 bail and are due back in the Nelspruit Commercial Crimes Court next month.
