A well-known businessman from Madombidza, Prince Mulala Ludere, has had another run-in with the law.

The 40-year-old Ludere appeared in the Louis Trichardt Regional Court on Monday, together with five co-accused on a charge of the illegal possession of a firearm. He appeared together with Tsepo Moepi (39) of Seshego, Alfred Nkuna (40) of Mamelodi, Lesetja Reuben Moloto (39) of Polokwane, Christopher Maleka of Polokwane and Jeffrey Nnkwamato Maphala (45) also of Mamelodi.

The group’s appearance follows Moepi and Nkuna’s arrest in December last year. According to information, the two were arrested after local police received a tip-off regarding a robbery that was being planned. This led to the pair´s arrest near Eltivillas on December 28 last year. When the police searched the vehicle that they were driving, they found two unlicensed 9mm pistols.

Following Moepi and Nkuna’s arrest, they implicated their co-accused, who were subsequently arrested. Initially, charges of conspiracy to commit a robbery were also brought against the six accused. This charge was later dropped, due to a lack of evidence.

After a brief appearance, all six were released on bail. Moepi and Nkuna were released on R2 000 each, while the others were released on R5 000 each. During their court appearance, the six accused were unwilling to pose for a photo, saying that it was their “constitutional right” not to have their pictures taken.

It was not Ludere’s first appearance in court and he is currently out on medical parole, following a previous conviction. He was also arrested as a suspect in 2007 in connection with the daring daytime armed robbery at the Khoja’s Modern Store in 2005. The case was later withdrawn against Ludere, due to a lack of evidence. During the robbery, Mr Ghelani was brutally gunned down and his 84-year-old father, Mr Baboo Mohanial Ghelani, was wounded.

The case against the six was postponed until July 25 for further investigation.