Four arrested in Koenic Dunlop murder case in Mbombela
The arrests were made on the morning of Thursday August 11. One more suspect is still being sought.
Four men have been arrested in connection with the shooting and killing of Koenic Dunlop Zone Nelspruit’s owner Riaan van der Sandt (51).
Van der Sandt was killed at this Old Pretoria Road business by armed robbers on August 5.
A multidisciplinary operation by provincial police, serious and violent crime investigators, private security companies and Nelspruit police saw the arrest of four men in the early hours of Thursday August 11.
A statement by a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said that on Friday August 5, a group of armed suspects had stormed Van der Sandt’s business at about 16:00 when he and his employees were preparing to close for the day.
It is alleged that both Van der Sandt and his employees were held at gunpoint. Another employee was assaulted and forced to lead the robbers to the safe.
“Their actions resulted in an altercation between one suspect and the business owner,” said Mohlala.
Van der Sandt was then shot.
The suspects fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.
“The matter was reported to the police in Nelspruit and a case of robbery with an additional charge of murder was opened.
“Members investigated the case and made a breakthrough when they nabbed four suspects in the early hours of Thursday.”
The suspects are between the ages of 27 and 30.
Mohlala said a firearm was recovered during the arrest and was confiscated. He said the firearm will undergo ballistic testing to determine whether it was used in the commission of crime elsewhere.
“One of the suspects is still at large and is being sought by the police.”
The men are expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday August 15 and are facing murder and robbery charges as well as possession of an unlicensed firearm with ammunition.
More charges could possibly be added against them as the investigation continues.
The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, has strongly condemned the senseless killing of Van der Sandt.
“With the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of the firearm, we are adamant that the suspects could be linked to other robbery incidents,” she said.
