Murder and robbery suspects denied bail
Bangladeshi nationals demand justice for countrymen killed during robbery.
The Brakpan Bangladeshi community came out in numbers to demonstrate outside the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
More than 50 people gathered in peaceful protest against the bail application of three men arrested for the murder of two Bangladeshi nationals during a robbery at a local supermarket on July 23.
The trio were arrested on October 12. They face charges of murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and business robbery.
On the evening of the robbery, as previously reported by the Brakpan Herald, three gunmen entered the Voortrekker Road store at 20:20 and raided the tills.
Two other robbers stood guard at the store’s entrance and threatened two employees at gunpoint.
“The men in the store left the shop, firing shots at the two employees at the door,” stated Brakpan SAPS spokesperson Captain Pearl van Staad.
One of the employees sustained a gunshot wound to the head and died on the scene.
“When the paramedics arrived, the second employee also died,” added Van Staad.
CCTV footage of the robbery at the shop led to the tracing of the suspects.
The Ekurhuleni Task Team, Brakpan SAPS Crime Prevention and other role players arrested two of the men in Benoni and the other one in Kempton Park.
Firearms, ammunition and cellphones were seized during the arrests. The protestors outside the court told the Herald they had gathered to seek justice for the victims, Mainul Hassan (21) and Arif Hossain (26).
A relative of Hassan explained the young man had only been in the country for 27 days.
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“His family back home is devastated and wants justice,” said Hamad Mamum.
“We also want people to know that we are totally against crime, all types of crime.”
The gathering caught the eye of passers-by, many of whom stopped to ask questions and motorists driving along Kitzinger Avenue slowed down to catch a glimpse of the crowd.
The bail application had the desired outcome for those gathered as bail was denied to the suspects.
The three men, who are Zimbabwean nationals, were remanded in custody and the case was postponed to February 17.
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