By Everson Luhanga
Three suspects who are believed to be part of a bigger gang of hardened criminals terrorising Gauteng have been re-arrested – after mysteriously being released from police cells before appearing in court.
The three were re-arrested on different dates in May and July after their release from the Hillbrow police cells in October last year, following a shootout with police.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said an investigation into why the three suspects were released is underway.
In October last year, five men broke into a home in Primrose, Germiston. Three of the gang who were arrested and subsequently released without appearing in court were recognised as being part of the same gang the JMPD arrested after they crashed their car into a church in October last year after robbing the house.
The three are suspected to be part of a five-man gang that, on 22 March, broke into the Germiston home of a police officer who works in the crime prevention unit at the Hillbrow police station.
One of the suspects grabbed one of the policeman’s sons and shot the officer in the leg, threatening to kill the 12-year-old boy if the officer didn’t give them what they wanted. The officer surrendered, and the men looted the house.
Two cases of attempted murder and house robbery were registered at the Germiston police station for investigation. The officer stayed in hospital for five days before being discharged. He is still at home recovering from his injuries.
The officer recognised some suspects from the CCTV footage recorded at his house.
One suspect was arrested on 28 May. After profiling him, police found he was wanted for 40 cases, including house robberies, jewellery robberies and attempted murder.
He was recently released from jail on parole. According to a police source who cannot be identified, the suspect often bribes his way out of police custody before appearing in court.
A second suspect, who shot the officer in Germiston, was traced and arrested in Johannesburg Prison on 12 July.
He was in prison after being arrested for a case in which he shot and killed a security guard in Maboneng, in Johannesburg’s CBD. He was also wanted for shooting someone in Durban and fleeing to Johannesburg.
The third suspect was arrested on 18 July after being charged with another gang of over 15 criminals who had robbed a Cash Crusaders in Honeydew.
The gang stole laptops, cellphones, jewellery, and other valuables. Police used a cellphone with a tracker and traced them, and they were arrested in Hillbrow.
Sibeko confirmed that police are investigating cases of house robbery and attempted murder. The three suspects appeared in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 1 August.
Pictured above: Some of the suspected criminals who have been terrorising parts of Gauteng.
Source: Supplied
