One armed robbery suspect is nabbed
ONE of four suspects believed to have been behind a business robbery and hijacking that took place in eShowe CBD has been arrested.
The suspect (42) was tracked down to a hospital in KwaDukuza where he was arrested in his hospital bed on Wednesday.
The robbery was carried out on 6 May by heavily armed suspects who held up employees at gunpoint and assaulted them before taking money from the till.
After leaving the premises, the suspects hijacked a vehicle that was parked outside.
eShowe police were alerted and immediately responded to the scene where a shoot-out ensued.
During the shoot-out, a 38-year-old suspect was fatally wounded and was found in possession of two pistols with 13 rounds of ammunition, and a knife.
Another suspect was wounded, the bloodstains of which were noticed on the ground.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala said the deceased was identified as Jabulani Khuzwayo.
‘Charges of business robbery, carjacking, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition were opened for investigation at eShowe Saps,’ she said.
‘On Wednesday and Thursday, a joint operation was conducted where a team of police officers followed up on information regarding the suspects involved in the robbery.
‘The information led the team to a hospital in KwaDukuza where the 42-year-old suspect had been admitted. He was arrested and is still in hospital under police guard,’ Gwala said.
Gwala added that the information then led police to the Isithebe area where another two suspects were arrested.
‘A 36-year-old suspect was found in possession of a pistol with four rounds of ammunition, while the other one (29) was found in possession of a cellphone that was taken in a robbery that occurred in Mandeni on 5 May.
Police continued with the operation which yielded more arrests.
‘They went to a house in Khenana, Nyoni where an intensive search was conducted. Police found five firearms and 102 rounds of ammunition.
‘A 31-year-old suspect was arrested for unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
‘Two more suspects were arrested in the Nyoni area after they were found in possession of vehicles that were used in the Mandeni robbery.
'The suspects have been linked to robberies committed in areas under Ilembe and King Cetshwayo districts.
‘They have been profiled and will be linked to other robberies as well.
'The suspects appeared at the Nyoni Magistrate's Court on Friday. They were remanded in police custody pending further investigation,’ Gwala said.