Man falsely accused of armed robbery

A man is furious after he was falsely accused of robbing an electronics store in Pretoria East on Thursday.

Modise “Karabo” Jacob Matlala said the police wrongfully accused him of robbing an Incredible Connection store at Kolonade Mall.

The Annlin resident said he went to the Incredible Connection store at Kolonade Mall around 15:00 on Thursday to look at laptops.

“I had about R4 000 cash on me and decided to deposit the money in my account before purchasing the laptop.”

“I deposited the money into my account, and went back to the shop to buy the laptop.”

As Matlala left the shop with the laptop and several other items he had bought, two police officers came towards him and apprehended him.

He said the officers demanded he hand over his gun.

“I immediately gave them my firearm and went with them to the shop’s storeroom for further interrogations.”

Matlala said he was shocked at what was happening.

“In the storeroom, police told me another Incredible Connection store in Faerie Glen had been robbed earlier on Thursday.”

Police told Matlala he matched the description of one of the armed men who robbed the Incredible Connection store at Atterbury Value Mart earlier that day.

Two Atterbury Value Mart employees were also called to identify Matlala.

“The two staff members came and both said they did not recognise me.”

Police asked Matlala for his firearm licence, which he provided, and he was then allowed to leave.

No docket was opened.

Matlala said he usually carried his firearm with him for security reasons.

“After my brother was brutally killed in October last year, I have never felt safe.”

Police provincial spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubele said the matter would be investigated, however, would be a challenge to obtain facts since a docket was not opened.

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