Graaff-Reinet Advertiser

Robbers described as high-risk

- Christo Vermaak

The six alleged robbers who are suspected of involvemen­t in at least two armed robberies in Graaff-Reinet indicated that they do not intend to apply for bail.

The alleged robbers, as well as a woman who allegedly worked at one of the targeted places, appeared in the GraaffRein­et Magistrate's Court on Tuesday 12 November.

State Prosecutor Drian Bakkes described them as high-risk detainees.

The six men were arrested on Panorama Hill on 5 November.

Further investigat­ion led the detectives to arrest the female suspect, who allegedly gave sensitive informatio­n to the robbers, helping them in their robbery planning.

Five of the male suspects are detained at St Albans Correction­al Services, Port Elizabeth, with one man and the woman kept in jail separately at an unknown prison. St Albans is a high-security prison, described by correction­al services employees as a prison with technology to keep high-risk inmates behind bars.

The two robberies include that of a man who was robbed at gunpoint of R25 000 while on his way to the bank, and one at a liquor store.

Bakkes told the court that the suspects are such a high risk that they cannot even consider keeping them in Graaff-Reinet Correction­al Services for one night.

During the arrest, the suspects were found in possession of five handguns, a pumpaction gun and a large amount of money.

Their arrest followed informatio­n gained from a police officer who saw them in a vehicle described as the getaway vehicle. Visible Policing Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Moria Abrahams, Captain Albert Senekal, Graaff-Reinet Detectives, GraaffRein­et Police Crime Prevention, Graaff Reinet Cluster Operationa­l Command Centre members and members from GraaffRein­et Dog unit compiled a tactical plan to execute the arrest immediatel­y after the informatio­n was gained.

They will appear in court again on 26 November.

 ??  ?? The alleged robbers on the scene where they were arrested on Panorama Hill.
The alleged robbers on the scene where they were arrested on Panorama Hill.

Newspapers in Afrikaans

Newspapers from South Africa