Lentswe, Orkney - The Provincial Organised Crime in cooperation with Klerksdorp Tactical Response Team (TRT) pounced on three unsuspecting robbery suspects in Kanana last week.
This operation on November 12 came after extensive police investigations and identification of suspects, who were allegedly involved in a robbery in Kanana during October.
“It was reported that the victim responded to a Facebook advertisement in which a Toyota Quantum Taxi was advertised for a cheap price.
The victim and his son drove from Mahikeng to Kanana where they met the seller. He was shown the vehicle at a house in Kanana and then transferred R150 000 through his banking app into the seller’s account.
“The victim and his son were suddenly overpowered by eight males who claimed to be police officers. They assaulted the duo and took their cellular phones. One of the suspects send cash via “cash send” from the victim’s phone.
“They further took his bank card, then forced him to give them the pin number and ultimately withdrew money from an ATM. After the ordeal, the victims were released and went to report the matter at the local police station,” said Col Adéle Myburgh, police spokesperson.
Tebogo Deco Chosi (32), Mpho Pitso (38) and Daniel Gideon Rwexane (36) appeared in the Orkney Magistrates’ Court on November 14, on charges of fraud, robbery, assault and impersonating police officials. They were remanded in custody until their next court appearance.
Further police investigations linked them to three more cases reported during September and October in Jouberton and Kanana. In one of the cases reported in Jouberton on Heritage Day, police also arrested Seokama Abrams (50), Zamile Marote (51) and David Metlholo Mereko (60). They used the same modus operandi of luring the unsuspecting victims by advertising a Toyota Quantum taxi on Facebook.
The suspects appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on October 30. The trio was also remanded in custody.
The North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the teams for their dedication, thorough investigation and diligence that resulted in the arrests. He urged members of the community to exercise caution when responding to online advertisements and to rather meet potential sellers or buyers at public places for their own safety.
