Robbers claim police are clueless

"We were inconvenienced by the police who were just picking up anyone who was black," a R4.5m heist suspect said.

 Kimberley - The five suspects accused of robbing a cash-in-transit vehicle of nearly R5 million last month will continue their formal bail application in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning.

A G4S cash-in-transit van was involved in a heist outside K&B Supermarket on November 16, with nearby streets and suburbs transformed into a scene from a Hollywood action movie as the suspects opened fire on police during a high-speed chase.

No injuries were reported, but millions of rands remain unaccounted for and the five suspects currently in custody, on Wednesday proclaimed their innocence.

While four of the five suspects have previous convictions, all of them on Wednesday denied any involvement in the incident, claiming to have been harassed by the police and wrongfully arrested.

The accused may not be identified at this stage pending an identity parade.

In his affidavit, read by his legal representative, Advocate Maru Maphalla, the first accused, who is from Bloemfontein, expressed his intention to enter a not guilty plea and said during Wednesday’s bail application that he had come to Kimberley for business.

According to his statement, he was on his way home when he was stopped by police.

“There are a number of exceptional circumstances that need to be taken into consideration. I was never involved in the incident. We were inconvenienced by the police who were just picking up anyone who was black.

“There were six other suspects arrested along with us who were later released. This on its own indicates that the police don’t know what they are doing. We were shown clothes and vehicles and were told that they were ours. We were also only told what the charges were against us on the day after the arrest.

“Only one of my co-accused is known to me.”

The third accused, who is 28-years-old, confirmed this account of events and verified that he had travelled with the first applicant from Bloemfontein to Kimberley for business on the day in question.

The second accused also said that he only knew one of his co-accused, his cousin and fourth accused, who he had travelled with from Bloemfontein in order to consult a traditional healer.

“The State doesn’t have a strong case,” the 47-year-old vegetable seller said in his affidavit.

“I was in the company of my cousin who had travelled with me to see a traditional healer in Greenpoint. We were found in possession of the herbs and muthi when we were just randomly approached by the police who wanted to know where the gun and our friends were.

“I submitted DNA samples for testing and these will show that I cannot be linked to the offence.”

The fourth accused corroborated his cousin’s story, saying that they had travelled to Greenpoint to consult a traditional healer.

“On the way back from Greenpoint we were met by the police who wanted to find money and guns. They were just arresting random people who didn’t speak with an Afrikaans accent. It was little more than a fishing expedition.”

Accused number five also pleaded his innocence.

However, the commander of the Kimberley Organised Crime Unit, Colonel Solomon Mogatwe, who is the investigating officer, pointed out that all five accused had been apprehended under strong suspicion of their involvement in the robbery.

“The first accused was seen by community members coming out of a house in First Avenue and he was arrested,” the Mogatwe said on the stand on Wednesday. “At the house they found a .38 revolver, blue overall jacket, gloves and a hat which could be tied to the crime.

“Accused number two was seen running and jumping over the railway line. Members of the community also pointed him out to the police.

“The third accused was the driver of the green Honda which was linked to the crime. One of the police officials identified him by the T-shirt he was wearing. He is the one who opened fire on police, He was arrested during the chase and when they searched him they discovered an Allen key.

“Accused number four was also chased by the police officials. When he was arrested they walked back, following his tracks, to where a 9mm handgun, gloves, jacket and cap were found in another yard. After his arrest, a policeman identified him as the passenger in the Honda.

“Accused number five was the driver of the red Nissan bakkie. He was identified by his red and black T-shirt. He jumped into a yard before joining onlookers. He didn’t stay long with the residents and started running again.”

Mogatwe added that more than R4.5 million remained unaccounted for following the heist.

The formal bail application will continue this morning.

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