A man who had served 15 years’ imprisonment for culpable homicide was again arrested after an Edenvale licence plate recognition (LPR) camera picked up a vehicle with a false registration number.
Sebenza SAPS communications officer Sgt Sharon Tsotsotso said the four occupants of the vehicle told officers they were working for an e-haling service at the time of the arrest on February 19.
“The false registration number was from a car that had been hijacked,” said Tsotsotso.
Security companies called for backup when the camera picked up the registration number and Sebenza SAPS police officers Const Xolani Mlambo and Const Sam Mashalane responded.
Authorities stopped the vehicle at Zuurfontein Road in Sebenza.
Upon observation, it was discovered that the original registration number was that of an e-haling vehicle.
“Four men, aged 23, 24, 30 and 48, were occupants of the vehicle. Suspects were found in possession of an unlicensed firearm with its serial number filed off.
“Two of the suspects were identified as repeat offenders,” said Tsotsotso.
“Investigations established that one of the four suspects was out on bail for robbery of a cellphone in Thembisa.”
The other had served 15 years in Johannesburg Correctional Centre after being convicted of culpable homicide, robbery and hijacking.
The ex-convict was identified as an alleged pastor who runs a church in Thembisa.
“We thank all the security companies involved and SAPS constables Mlambo and Mashalane for their work on this case.”
Tsotsotso also gave credit to the LPR cameras in Edenvale.
The four appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on February 21.
The outcome of the court proceedings were unknown at the time of going to print.
