Mphendulo Absina Hassane (33), who was wanted for cash-in-transit robbery, was arrested on Saturday November 11.
Hassane was arrested during a multidisciplinary disruptive operation comprising the Mpumalanga DPCI, the National Intervention Unit, and Nelspruit Crime intelligence.
According to the provincial Hawks spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, the arrest followed after the suspect was linked through fingerprints to a Malalane cash-in-transit which took place on August 11 on the R570 Malelane road to Schoemansdal.
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“During the robbery two getaway vehicles were used and later recovered at a safe house in Buffelspruit. The Local Criminal Record Centre Nelspruit attended the scene and retrieved fingerprints from the Ford Ranger, which were later linked to Hassane.
A warrant for arrest was authorised and he was tracked for months without success. His image was circulated on media platforms on several occasions.
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“On Saturday November 11 at about 07:00, information was received by the team on his whereabouts in KaNyamazane. The dedicated team traced him to his hiding place and the warrant of arrest was executed. This brings the number of accused persons on Malelane CIT case to nine” said Sekgotodi.
She added that the suspect appeared in the Malelane Magistrate’s Court on Monday November 13, and he was remanded in custody.
The case was postponed to Wednesday November 22 for bail application. The investigation is continuing.
