Heist suspects arrested in shootout apply for bail

Three suspects who were allegedly involved in a foiled heist in Kariega in August, and were later arrested by police during a shootout in Komani, appeared in the local magistrate’s court yesterday.

Their case was postponed in Augusut for a formal bail hearing yesterday.

Phikolomzi Mntonitsho, Andile Mngqibisa and

Thabile Mnyatela are charged with attempted murder, possession of unlicenced firearms and ammunition.

By the time of going to print, their bail application had not been finalised.

On September 1, The Rep reported that swift police action led to the arrest of three men when they drove into Komani via the R67.

In what could have been a scene in a movie, the police exchanged fire with the suspects close to the traffic circle, where the R67 and N6 meet.

The three were allegedly involved in a cash-in-transit heist on August 28 in Kamesh, Kariega.

A bystander was killed during the attempted heist. The suspects then fled the scene in a Isuzu delivery van, and were eventually arrested in Komani.

According to the police, five firearms were recovered during their arrests.

The suspects made their first appearance in court on August 31.

Before they were led up from the holding cells, the heavily guarded courtroom’s gallery was cleared and only members of the SAPS and media were allowed inside.

At first, all three suspects chose to be represented by the same

Legal Aid lawyer. On Friday, Mntonitsho and Mnyatela asked to be represented by the same lawyer, while Mngqibisa decided to have his own lawyer.

Mntonitsho declared in their previous appearance that he has no pending cases against him, while Mngqibisa confirmed that he is out on parole for a murder he committed in 2000, for which he was sentenced in 2003 in Cofimvaba.

Mnyatela confirmed that he has a previous conviction for housebreaking in Cape Town in 2007, for which he was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment.

All suspects requested medical attention.

The magistrate informed them that they would receive medical attention at the Sada Prison.

Mngqibisa was sent back to prison for violating his parole requirements, while Mntonitsho and Mnyatela are in custody.