Four would-be business robbers, including a briber arrested in the Free State town Parys, are set to appear in the Parys Magistrates’ Court today, 5 February. The men, aged 22, 28, 31, and 36 years, were nabbed on Friday, 2 February.
The police acted promptly after receiving intelligence-driven information. Sgt. Josephine Rani, police spokesperson for the Fezile Dabi district, said two of the four men will face charges of business robbery and attempted murder which occurred in the township of Tumahole, Parys. The other men (the 28 and 31-year-old) will face charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition after they failed to produce licenses thereof.
Rani said the fifth man (36), will face a charge of bribery after allegedly trying to bribe the police to release his two friends, the 22 and 28-year-old suspects.
“The 36-year-old man arrived at the police station and offered members cash in exchange for the release of his friends. An undisclosed amount of cash was confiscated,” said Rani. She said the two suspects, were arrested after a high speed chase in Parys. “They were travelling in a blue VW Polo with Gauteng registration plates. The police are searching for the third suspect on the run,” said Rani. She said information received links the pair to a spate of business robberies in the Tumahole township.
Rani said members received intelligence-driven information that the other would-be robbers, the 28 and 31-year-old suspects, had planned to commit a robbery on the day in question.
“Members received information about a white Volkswagen Polo travelling towards Parys and that the occupants were in possession of firearms and planning to commit a robbery. The members strategically patrolled around Parys and eventually they cornered the suspects at one of the shops in Parys. The two suspects were searched, and two unlicensed firearms and ammunition were recovered in their possession. The Polo, a 9 mm PX firearm with eight rounds, magazine, and a 9 mm Norinco, three rounds and magazine were confiscated,” said Rani.
