TWO suspects, aged 30 and 32, are in police custody after being arrested while committing a business robbery at an Edleen guest house on Besembos Street in Edleen in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The two were charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault and rape.
According to the owner of the guest house, Chika Japan (45), the duo arrived at the business at around 2.40am pretending to be customers. Japan arrived on the scene after the suspects had been arrested and was given a report back by one of the two employees who were on duty.
Also read:
• Staff, international tourists held up at Pomona guest house
• Brand new stolen car found at Aston Manor guest house
• Birchleigh guest house owner attacked
One of the two arrested suspects hurled insults and threats at Japan from inside the police van. Japan retaliated by pepper spraying him until police restrained him.
“He kept shouting that prison was his home and he would be back to come and kill us. He said he knew his rights and he had a life sentence but was still out of prison so he would be out again,” said Japan.
CCTV footage recorded the entire ordeal of the morning, including the rape of a 33-year-old woman by the men.
Japan said the suspects parked their vehicle, a white minibus taxi, a few houses away from the guest house and entered the premises on foot.
“They requested a quote to book a room and then pulled out a firearm and pointed it at the employees who were on duty, before jumping behind the counter,” he added.
The suspects, he said, were armed with a gun, pliers and a knife. It was later discovered that the gun was not loaded.
“They switched off one camera in the reception area that was facing them, unaware that there were others all over the property,” said Japan.
The two, one South African and one Zimbabwean national, then forced the employees to open the safes and took an undisclosed amount of money, along with all the employees’ cellphones and jewellery.
A client who wanted to book a room walked in on the scene and was hit over the head with a firearm by one of the suspects. He was told to lie down and was stripped of his jewellery and cellphone. Blood dripped from his head.
Japan said there were around 10 guests booked in at the guest house who were all sleeping upstairs while the crime took place. One of the guests called Norkem Park SAPS when he realised something was going on downstairs.
“I would like to applaud the police for their quick response. They arrived in less than 10 minutes with two vehicles, then called for back-up. There were around 15 officers,” he said.
When the suspects noticed that police were on the scene they ran upstairs and hid in one of the rooms.
Norkem Park SAPS spokesman, Capt Lesibana Molokomme, said one suspect was found hiding on the roof.
“On searching him they found him to be in possession of different kinds of watches and a firearm with no live rounds,” he explained.
Both suspects were eventually cornered and taken into custody.
Norkem Park SAPS station commander, Col Francinah Tshabalala ,was also present at the crime scene.
Japan now wants justice to prevail. “I just want the law to take its course. I will attend every appearance and I will oppose bail,” he said.
He siad his employees would be given an option of attending counselling sessions following the ordeal.
“This is bad for business. I’ve installed cameras and the only thing I can do now is pray to God because there’s no other way of preventing such crimes from taking place,” he added.
Japan warned other businesses to be alert and aware of this kind of crime.
