Update: Police officials out on free bail
The escaped suspect was still at large, but Magadlela swore to bring him to justice.
MBOMBELA – The two police officials who had been arrested on Wednesday after a suspect absconded from the Pienaar prison cells under their supervision, were granted free bail on Thursday.
Warrant officer Mfembi Petrus Mashaba (53) and Sgt Magigwane Amos Mathebula (55), appeared in the KaNyamazane Magistrate’s Court on charges of aiding a prisoner to escape after Mr Skhumbuzo Segage (21) escaped from the advanced security system of Pienaar Police Station on Wednesday. Their case had been postponed to July 10.
Segage was arrested by community members earlier on Wednesday on suspicion that he had been involved in an armed robbery. It was also suspected that he was in possession of stolen property, which would have been used against him in court. Three hours later, the cell commander and his colleague discovered that Segage had escaped from police custody. He is still at large.
Mpumalanga’s provicial commissioner. Lt Gen Mark Magadlela then personally arrested the two police officials to “make an example out of them” by demonstrating that ill-disciplined officials will not be tolerated in the force.
Officials arrested for allegedly aiding in prison break
MBOMBELA – Our very own provincial commissioner, Lt Gen Mark Magadlela, arrested two police officials of Pienaar on Wednesday after they had allegedly allowed a suspect to escape from the holding cells at the police station earlier that day.
The suspect had been arrested by community members and taken to the police station on suspicion that he had been involved in an armed robbery, and that he was in possession of suspected stolen property.
The stolen items, most of which were cellphones, would have been used as evidence against him in court.
Three hours later, the cell commander and his colleague discovered that he had escaped from police custody.
Magadlela travelled to Pienaar Police Station to investigate the matter, since Pienaar had one of the best and well-equipped stations in Mpumalanga. He immediately arrested the warrant officer and a sergeant who had been responsible for the supervision of the suspect and vowed to set an example that ill-disciplined police officials would not be tolerated on the force. He said he hoped the law-abiding citizens of Pienaar did not lose hope in their police force as the station would continue to cooperate with them.
“I am impressed and appreciate this kind of assistance from the community of Pienaar,” he said.
“This clearly shows that community members still have faith in the police and we cannot allow a situation where members are discouraged by these acts of criminality from the police. I request the community of Pienaar not to lose hope nor take the law into their own hands.”
The escaped suspect was still at large, but Magadlela swore to bring him to justice.
“I have established a strong and reliable team to to ensure that the suspect is caught and brought back to the cells.”
The two police officers appeared in the KaNyamazane Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. Read the outcome in tomorrow’s edition of Lowvelder.
