A man is in custody awaiting trial in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court after his two alleged victims overpowered him during an attempted armed robbery, and handed him to the police.
The 26-year-old suspect from Alex, is charged with armed robbery and illegal possession of a weapon. His accomplice is at large.
The suspect allegedly attempted to rob the victims, a taxi driver and his friend, at about 7pm on 11 September. The suspects boarded the taxi at 4th Avenue and said they would get off at 8th Avenue.
When the driver stopped and asked for the fare, the suspect instead allegedly pointed a gun at him and demanded money. The suspect’s accomplice, meanwhile, got out of the taxi and approached the driver from the outside. The two wrestled for the vehicle’s keys and the accomplice took the vehicle’s immobiliser and ran away.
Meanwhile, the suspect who was still in the taxi was observed by the driver’s companion fiddling with the weapon which seemed dysfunctional. The two started wrestling and the driver assisted in restraining the suspect.
The two men allegedly beat the suspect up before the police came and arrested him. He was taken to the Alex Clinic for treatment under police guard.
Read: Police investigate migrant trader’s robbery
