MORGENZON – Five suspects were arrested for damaging infrastructure and the possession of stolen property by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation based in Secunda, during a disruptive operation on April 29.
The team received information about people stealing railway lines at Morgenzon.
According to Capt Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, spokesman for the Hawks, on their arrival at the scene they found the five suspects loading railway lines into two trucks, as well as tractor, a front loader and a bakkie.
“The damage is estimated at R1.5 million,” Capt Sekgotodi said.
The suspects were detained and first appeared in the Morgenzon Magistrate’s Court on May 3, facing charges of damaging infrastructure, theft and possession of suspected stolen property.
During the court proceeding information was received that some of the stolen railway lines had already been delivered in Gauteng and the Hawks acted on the information and rushed to the identified place.
The team found the railway lines at a scrapyard and a Transnet investigating officer identified them as the company’s property.
The case against the five accused, Mr Phillip Thyse (56), Mr Kashveer Harrilil (27), Mr Mahlomola Johannes Mphasha (45), Mr Sipho Maseko (45) and Mr Mthabine Semid Tsotetsi (53) was postponed to May 10 for further investigation and possible bail application.
