Suspect allegedly tried to bribe police
A suspect connected with an armed robbery on the R516 road near Settlers may have overstepped his boundaries when he allegedly tried to bribe a police official.
Lt Col Annemarie Smith, head of the detective unit in Bela-Bela, says the suspect was caught with stolen property in die Vaalbank area in Mpumalanga.
The robbery took place on the road between Settlers and Tuinplaas, where a utility vehicle carrying goods was forced off the road by armed suspects.
“The three suspects kidnapped the driver and his passenger (two siblings), blindfolded them, took their vehicle and drove with them to an unknown location. There the brothers could hear how their goods were sold to an unidentified person,” said Smith.
“The suspects phoned the two brothers’ wives and demanded R5 000 ransom for each of them. The ransom was paid and they were dropped off at an unknown location.”
Through investigation, the police found that the vehicle that was used in the robbery was a rental car. The car was found in Mamelodi.
One of the suspects, Umar Maya, was traced to Vaalbank and arrested.
“On the way to the police station the suspect offered the arresting officer a bribe of R10 000 for his release, which was a huge mistake,” said Smith.
Maya was charged with possession of the allegedly stolen property, bribery and being illegally in the country.
He has already appeared in court and will remain in custody for his next appearance on Wednesday 5 July.
Investigations are ongoing to apprehend the other suspects.
