The seven suspects arrested in connection with the daring night-time armed robbery at the Total filling station at the Capricorn Toll Plaza on 5 December, which included a senior member of the police's Crime Intelligence Unit in Louis Trichardt, all made their first court appearance in Louis Trichardt this week.
A group of suspects entered the Bonjour shop on the premises at about 03:00 on that day and held the staff at gunpoint. They fled the scene thereafter with a drop safe containing an undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes in a white Toyota bakkie and a Toyota Corolla Quest.
"The police were quick to respond to the incident and a well-coordinated and intelligence-driven operation was conducted, which led to the arrest of the seven suspects at different locations [on Tuesday]," said provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo in a press release after the incident.
The first to be arrested was a female employee of the filling station at her workplace, the 39-year-old Nkhanedzeni Mungomeni. Further investigation implicated more suspects and a 52-year-old police warrant-officer attached to the police's Crime Intelligence Unit in Louis Trichardt, Isaac Nemutshenzheni, was apprehended at his work place. The rest of the suspects were arrested at their homes in Shayandima in the Mphephu policing area. They were the 45-year-old Tshifhiwa Mushweu, 49-year-old Tshinanne Netshitakani, 32-year-old Rabelani Makushini, 40-year-old Nqabuko Moyo and 38-year-old Vhahangwele Manyoro.
During the arrest, the police recovered several items that were positively linked to the robbery, including a drop safe containing an undisclosed amount of money, packets of cigarettes of various brands, the Toyota Corolla, and the Toyota Hilux bakkie.
The seven suspects, who have been in custody since their arrest, all made their first court appearance on Monday this week in the court in Louis Trichardt on charges of business robbery and the possession of suspected stolen goods. The case was postponed until Tuesday, 13 December, and again to Thursday, 15 December, when the seven accused are expected to bring a bail application.