The identities of the six armed suspects of the Bloemfontein’s Hamilton industry cash-in-transit heist of last year November have been unmasked with all set to reappear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on 20 June.
Their identities were withheld as part of the Free State Hawks’ Priority Crime Investigation into possible link to other cash heists in the country.
The robbery suspects are Howard Rambevha Mokoena (34), Samuel Dlamini (34), Boitshoko Kenosi (41), Jabulani Banda (53) and Samuel Maleka (32). They were napped hours after robbing a van in Bloemfontein on 13 November last year. The enforcement agencies that include Welkom Flying squad, Welkom K9 Unit, Allanridge police and Bothaville police as well as private security company, corned the armed men on the road near Bothaville.
Col. Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said only Kenosi was granted bail of R10 000 while five accomplices are remained in custody after the state successfully opposed their bail applications.
“They are charged with armed robbery, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms, illegal possession of ammunition as well as illegal possession of explosives,” said Mohobeleli.
The police recovered undisclosed amount of cash during the arrest of the suspects. They ambushed cash van at around 06:00 on the corner of Mill street and Vooruitsig Street.
The suspects drove a Mercedes Benz into the cash delivery vehicle and disarmed the security guards and thereafter use explosive to blew the van before fleeing the scene in a white Toyota Hilux van and a white Mazda.
