A few days after seven suspects were arrested in Nelson Mandela Bay in connection with suspected stolen groceries amounting to the value of more than R2 million, all of them were allowed to go free, after recently appearing in court.
The seven men were arrested by members of the Kariega Police Station last week on charges ranging from hijacking to the possession of suspected stolen property.
This follows an incident on January 5, when a Nissan UD truck stocked with groceries, was hijacked on the N2 close to John Tallant Road.
Police spokesperson, Captain Gerda Swart, said that the driver and his passenger were on their way to Oudtshoorn when the incident took place just after 03:00.
It is alleged that a white Nissan NP200 bakkie suddenly drove past the truck, after which a passenger pointed a firearm at the truck driver and ordered him to pull off the road. The suspects then allegedly took control of the truck and the two victims were ordered to climb into the bakkie and were later dropped off in Motherwell.
“After a few hours, the security company noticed that the truck driver was not travelling as scheduled and the police were roped in to assist,” Swart explained. “During a combined operation between various units, the Nissan UD truck was found abandoned at about 07:30 on the R75 outside Kariega, with some of the load missing. Further information was immediately followed up on and a large quantity of the grocery items were recovered at 09:00 on a farm close to the R75, Kariega.”
Swart added that two vehicles, a VW Caddy and Nissan NP300 vehicle, were also found with some on the stolen property already loaded into the vehicles. The male driver (34) of the VW Caddy and a second male suspect (31) were arrested at the scene.
The estimated value of the stolen goods recovered amounted to more than R2.2 million.
Later the same day, five more suspects were arrested after an extensive search in the area and the surrounding bushes was conducted.
The seven recently appeared in the Kariega Magistrate’s Court and more arrests were imminent as the Provincial Organised Crime Unit in Nelson Mandela Bay were tasked with following up on further leads. However, after their court appearance, Swart said that due to a lack of sufficient testimony, the seven went free.
“More investigations will be done and the docket will then be presented to the senior state prosecutor who will then determine whether the case will continue.” – REPORTER
