The notorious criminal, Gary Beuthin, was arrested in Edenvale on Friday morning.
The acting spokesperson for the Edenvale SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts, confirmed to the NEWS that Beuthin was in custody at the Edenvale Police Station after he was caught with an unlicensed firearm and drugs in Eastleigh.
“Sector police officers were patrolling and identified the vehicle Beuthin was travelling in as a suspicious,” said Lt Col Roberts.
He was ordered to stop and officers found the firearm, a .38 Special revolver, hidden in the car as well as drugs.
He appeared in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
At the time of going to print, the outcome of the court appearance was not known.
Beuthin boasts a string of arrests from the 1980s, including kidnapping, drug possession, attempted murder and armed robbery, among others.
“Beuthin has a history of serious and violent crimes. He also currently has a number of cases pending against him,” said Lt Col Roberts.
Lt Col Roberts congratulated the officers who identified and arrested Beuthin.
“Conducting stop-and-searches in the area remains our top form of crime prevention. Well done to the officers who spotted the vehicle and made the arrest,” he said.
Beuthin was arrested in Sebenza, Benoni and Kempton Park in 2014 on drug-related charges.
He was also previously arrested in Sandton, Hillbrow and Bedfordview.
Beuthin’s history of violent crime:
His first reported violent incident took place at the age of 15, when he attacked a girlfriend. He smashed the window of her flat and dragged her out by the hair, firing shots into the air.
Beuthin repeatedly beat up his mother Ursula.
In the 1980s, Beuthin attended three high schools and joined the notorious Bouncer Gang.
In 1982, he was sentenced to R300 or six months’ imprisonment and 12 months suspended for five years for assault.
In 1984, he was charged with malicious damage to property and sentenced to 12 months, suspended for five years.
He trained as a bodybuilder and then spent three years in jail for his part in the murder of gay nightclub owner Lourens Snyman in 1984.
In May 1992, Beuthin was involved in a 12-day kidnapping saga that saw him disappear with his then girlfriend and socialite, Jill Reeves. It ended when Pastor Ray McCauley, of the Rhema Bible Church, encouraged him to hand himself over to the police.
He was arrested and faced 11 charges, including assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, kidnapping, bribery and robbery. During his trial, Beuthin assaulted the investigating officer when the officer went to visit him at the Diepkloof Prison. On August 31, 1993, he was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in jail.
He was also fined R1 000 or 150 days’ imprisonment on four counts of theft, and for not paying a hotel bill. His appeal attempt failed.
On June 8, 2007, he was released on parole.
On November 17, 2010, he, along with his nightclub owner friend Warren Schertel and girlfriend Melanie van Niekerk, assaulted former Hells Angels member Eduard Jacobs.
On November 20, 2010, he was caught in his car by Director Piet Byleveld and taken into custody. His parole was revoked.
Judge Kathy Satchwell sentenced him to 10 years in prison, with three years suspended.
