Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Station commander linked to robberies


NASHIRA DAVIDS | 16 January, 2013 00:072
 Comments Under arrest. File photo. Image by: MIKE SEGAR / REUTERS

The pursuit of four robbers by Khankhudung residents on horseback has led to the arrest of a police station commander.


 One of the suspects died soon after the chase. Yesterday, Captain Phodiso Phorotlho - who is in charge of the Wrenchville police station, in Northern Cape - appeared in the Kuruman Magistrate's Court on armed robbery charges. Police spokesman Lieutenant Olebongeng Tawana said one of the suspects claimed that Phorotlho told them rob a tuck shop owned by a foreigner, gave them her firearm and drove them to the scene of the crime in a police vehicle. "After the armed robbery [on January 3], the suspects fled the crime scene and community members chased after [them] on horseback and on foot," said Tawana.

 "They managed to arrest and [sjambok them]. "One of the suspects died later at the hospital." When police arrived at the scene they found a police firearm, air-time vouchers and cash. Tawana said one of the suspects then made some damning allegations. "One of the suspects confessed that the firearm they used in the armed robbery was handed to them by a high-ranking [police] officer," said Tawana. "He also alleged that it was not the first time that they engaged in such an atrocity.
 "[The suspect] informed the investigating team that they were off-loaded by the Wrenchville station commander to go and rob one of the foreign nationals' tuck shop." The men then led the police to foreign-owned shops that they targeted last year in areas such as Tsineng, Gamopedi, Batlharos, Maruping, Magojaneng, Mothibistad, Seoding and Khankhudung. Tawana said the men might have been involved in robberies in other areas as well. The police are still investigating the death of one of the suspects . Phorotlho was arrested on Monday and will appear in court again on January 21 when she is expected to apply for bail. She will remain in custody until then. Times Live

 - - - COMMENTS BY SONNY - - Are high ranking policewomen/men involved in organised crime? Sons of high ranking policemen have been arrested in the past for serious and violent crimes and have not been brought to book. CRIME IN SOUTH AFRICA IS OUT OF CONTROL. IS THIS HOW FARM MURDERS IN SA ALSO GET COMMITTED?

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