Police link vet’s death to syndicate

Kayla van Petegem

It is suspected that a syndicate robbed and murdered a veterinarian from the Moot.

This came to light after private investigator Mike Bolhuis started probing the robbery last week reports Pretoria Moot Rekord.

Dr Freddie Malan, owner of Jakaranda Animal Hospital, was shot dead at his practice on January 31.

Bolhuis said investigators were aware of six other robberies between Pretoria and Johannesburg in which the same modus operandi was used.

He said that Malan was the first fatality in these robberies. “Most of the robberies were at veterinary clinics, but other places were also targeted.”

Bolhuis became involved after a family member of Malan called him for help.

“Malan and his family have been clients of ours for years,” he said.

Residents should be aware of the increase in robberies, not only in Pretoria but in Gauteng as a whole, he said.

“We received a complaint from a family in Wonderboom South who got robbed in broad daylight while they were at church.”

Bolhuis urged people not to resist or fight back when confronted in a robbery.

“Only do so if you have been properly trained to protect yourself and the people around you,” he said.

“Your life is more important than anything else.”

Police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubela said no one had been arrested for the murder.

Makhubela said there were new leads that police were following up on, but he could not give more information.

He also could not confirm the details of the syndicate. – Caxton News Service