Three suspected armed robbers arrested

Mr Abayi Desai (37), who runs filling stations in Nzhelele and Wylliespoort, was on his way to collect money from the filling stations. He was accompanied by his part-time driver, Samuel Ramalamula (25), who was driving his Mercedes Benz, when three men attacked them.

The armed men overpowered them and took the money and cellphones and fled with the vehicle. Members of the community then alerted the police and the police from Dzanani immediately started with a manhunt.

When the three armed men saw that policemen were hunting them, they dumped the vehicle in the bush and ran with the money and cellphones. The police managed to arrest them shortly after the robbery and confiscated the money, two cellphones, a firearm, ammunition, and the Mercedes-Benz.

The police spokesperson in the Vhembe area, Capt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi, said one of the alleged robbers came from Gauteng and the other from Nzhelele. The suspects, aged between 30 and 35, were charged with hijacking and possession of an illegal firearm.

The suspects will appeared in the Dzanani magistrate’s court soon.

News - Date: 24 September 2004

Elijar Mushiana-NIPA

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