Suspect in court over illegal firearm

An Ethiopian national who was arrested in connection with a case of the illegal possession of a 32-calibre army-issue rifle is expected to appear again before the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court this week.

The businessman made his first court appearance on Thursday 20 February and his case was postponed to Tuesday 3 March, for formal bail application proceedings.

Bela-Bela police spokesperson, Sergeant Frans Maponya, said the suspect was remanded in custody following his first appearance.

The suspect’s arrest and subsequent court appearance are a sequel to an incident that happened on Wednesday 19 February.

The police received a tip off about the suspect being in possession of an unlicensed firearm.

The rifle was found hidden in a hole in a backyard in Leseding Section.

Maponya said the suspect allegedly told investigators the rifle belonged to his brother who lives in Pretoria.

He said the firearm has since been taken to the police laboratory in Pretoria for ballistic tests.

— The BEAT