Four of the five suspects that were arrested during crime intelligence driven operation, appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 14 February 2019, for illegal possession of a firearm, ammunition and explosives, were remanded in custody until Tuesday, 19 February 2019 for formal bail application.
The court appearance of the suspects aged between 23 and 30 stems from their apprehension in Rustenburg on Tuesday, 12 February 2019 through intelligence driven operation. That was after information was received regarding a white Nissan NP200 bakkie that was travelling from Diepsloot, Gauteng Province to Rustenburg to collect the fifth suspect together with explosives and firearms that were allegedly going to be used to commit business robbery.
According to information received, the suspects’ vehicle was intercepted at the Rustenburg taxi rank for a search. During the search, a pistol with filed off serial number was found together with live ammunition.
Further probe led the police to the fifth suspects’ place in Bobuantswa village, Phokeng where explosives were found. The suspect, aged 25 was then arrested for illegal possession of explosives. He was granted R5000.00 bail upon appearance before the Bafokeng Magistrates’ Court in Tlhabane on Thursday, 14 February 2019. The suspect is expected to appear before the same court again on Tuesday, 14 March 2019.
Investigation into the matter including possibility of linking the suspects to other business robberies in which filling stations in Rustenburg and Brits were targeted, is underway.
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