MUSINA – A 37-year-old man allegedly committed suicide after being arrested for being in possession of illegal cigarettes on Friday, November 26.

According to Capt Mashudu Malelo, spokesperson for the police in Musina, Elias Khumalo from Gauteng was travelling on the N1 between Beit Bridge and Musina when he was stopped at a roadblock. The roadblock was manned by the SAPS, SANDF and SARS officials. After requesting Khumalo to get out of his vehicle, the officials mounted a thorough search of the vehicle.

During the search, the officials discovered 180 cartons of illegal cigarettes. Upon seeing that the police had found the cigarettes, the suspect requested permission to relieve himself. The officers escorted the man to the nearest bathroom and allowed him to enter alone. Within a couple of seconds, the officers heard a gunshot.

On opening the door, they found the man lying in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound in the head. A .22 pistol was found lying next to him. An ambulance was called and Khumalo was rushed to hospital. On arrival at the hospital, he was pronounced dead.

The police have opened an inquest docket and are busy investigating the case. Khumalo was also found in possession of both a South-African and Zimbabwean identity document. It was stated on Wednesday that he was a Zimbabwean resident.