Police hunt two escapees
Police are hunting for two trial-awaiting prisoners after they escaped on Tuesday when they were freed by five armed men.
Police are searching for two trial-awaiting prisoners who escaped from police custody while being transported to the Kgosi Mampuru II prison.
Police spokesperson Captain Tsekiso Mofokeng said two police officers, employed as court orderlies at the Atteridgeville Magistrates Court, had been transporting eleven men from the Atteridgeville Magistrates Court to Kgosi Mampuru II prison on Tuesday afternoon when two of the men escaped.
Mofokeng said while the officers were transporting the prisoners, a maroon sedan with five occupants blocked the police vehicle in Matshiga Street, Atteridgeville.
The five occupants were armed with three 9mm pistols, an AK47 and an R5 rifle. While holding the police members at gunpoint, they picked the lock of the van and released two suspects. They allegedly took the keys of the vehicle, he said.
The two men who had been freed were Abram Matombo (36), arrested for armed robbery and Bethuel Fosi (25), arrested for theft.
Initial reports had stated that one of the escapees was the man accused of the killing of Laudium police officer, Constable Ronald Baloyi.
Gauteng police commissioner Lt-Gen Lesetja Joel Mothiba said every effort would be made to re-arrest the two escapees because many hours had been invested to arrest them. He said a charge of escaping from lawful custody would be added to the crimes they already faced.
A thorough investigation will be done to establish the reason (sic) for their escape and if our members have been negligent, they will be held accountable, he said.
Mofokeng warned the public not to confront the suspects because they were dangerous, but rather call the Crime Stop number 0860010111 or SMS Crime line 32211, should anybody have information about their whereabouts.
Also read:
Suspected cop killer allegedly escapes
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