Police officer nabbed for robbery

EASTERN Cape police have arrested a 50-year-old police warrant officer on charges of robbery and pointing a firearm.

Police spokesman Major Ernest Sigobe said the officer, who is attached to the Mdantsane police station, was arrested on Tuesday afternoon in NU1.

The man, who cannot be named until he has appeared in court, is alleged to have committed the robbery on Sunday.

Sigobe said the policeman was off duty at the time and, along with three accomplices, had robbed two people of their cellphones.

He said the officer together with his three accomplices aged between 19 and 22 were expected to appear at the Mdantsane Magi Court this morning.

The four suspects are facing charges of armed robbery, common robbery and also the use of a state vehicle without permission.

Sigobe appealed to possible witnesses to contact the investigating officer on the case, Detective Warrant Officer Richard Hartwell on 082 848 5189.

“We would like to appeal to the members of the public not to be scared but to come forward and report our police members when they commit crime,” Sigobe said.

A Gonubie woman was yesterday attacked and stabbed by three men on her Brakfontein farm near the Gonubie’s Farmers Hall.

East London police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana said the woman, aged 47, had been asleep at 5am when the men abruptly woke her.

Tana said two laptops, two DVD players and an undisclosed amount of money were stolen from the scene.

“Police are following up on leads and we are expecting an arrest soon,” said Tana. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za