Local police looking into the mystery of missing firearms
The owner of a security company faces five charges which are linked to the Firearms Control Act of 2 000 under different sub-sections.
The investigation into the company was sparked when the Boksburg North SAPS arrested two men in their early 20s for the possession of drugs. It was discovered one of them was unlawfully in possession of a firearm.
Upon further investigation, the firearm was traced to the company, even though neither of the two men arrested is employed by the company
According to the Boksburg North SAPS communication officer, Capt Juanita Coetzer, Sgt Jaco van der Mescht and Const Heinreicht Bester inspected the premises of the security company – to which the firearm belongs – and found the company had moved premises without applying for change of address.
The owner – a woman in her late thirties – was charged accordingly.
They also found nine firearms in the safe.
“Three firearms were missing; however, one firearm was found under a mattress in a bedroom,” said Coetzer.
The owner was then charged for failing to safeguard the firearm.
“She could not account for the other two firearms which couldn’t be found and was also charged for the negligent loss of firearms and failure to report the lost or stolen firearms,” said Coetzer.
The members found over 300 rounds of ammunition of which four had • 22LR rounds.
“The woman didn’t have a licence and was charged for the unlawful possession of ammunition,” said Coetzer.
She was also charged for giving a firearm to a person knowing that he/she may not possess or handle a firearm.
