Three found guilty for Telkom store robbery
Management of the SAPS in Gauteng believe that this arrest actually disrupted the work of an organised group that had been targeting cellphone stores some years ago.
The Pretoria magistrate’s court has convicted three men for the robbery of a Telkom store six years ago.
The men stormed into a Telkom store at Irene Shopping mall and robbed it.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said the group of armed men, Khangelani Tshalibe, Collin Moyo, Kumbulani Keizer Dube had robbed the Telkom store of cellphones valued at more than R100 000 in October 2014.
“The investigation led police to Yeoville in Johannesburg where the suspects were arrested.
“While in custody at Kgosi Mampuru, the suspects in January 2015, contacted the investigating officer and offered to compensate him if he could destroy the evidence in their case.”
The sergeant immediately activated the anti-corruption unit and three suspects were arrested for corruption while in the act of delivering the R150 000 that was contained in a bag at Boulders mall in Midrand.
Peters said the charges brought against the trio were robbery with aggravating circumstances, contravention of the firearm control act, possession of illegal firearm, possession of ammunition, possession of suspected stolen property, corruption, money laundering and defeating the administration of justice.
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“Further charges of corruption were then added onto the initial business robbery case.”
She said after almost six years, all three accused were found guilty for robbery with aggravating circumstances while Collin Moyo and Kumbulani Keizer Dube were acquitted on the remaining counts.
“Tshalibe was further found guilty on all the other charges and the trio will be sentenced in the same court on 24 August 2020.”
Management of the SAPS in Gauteng believe that this arrest actually disrupted the work of an organised group that had been targeting cellphone stores some years ago. This type of crime stabilised since the arrest of Khangelani Tshalibe, Collin Moyo and Kumbulani Dube.
Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela commended the relentless efforts and diligence with which Sergeant Thabo Moatshe of the provincial organised crime and project investigation unit for leading a quality investigation that resulted in the guilty verdict of three Telkom store robbers, and for refusing a R150 000 bribe.
Mawela hailed Moatshe as epitomising the calibre of officers that the SAPS aspire to attract and retain.
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“It is only with this kind of unwavering commitment to investigations and court trials, as well as high discipline and ethical conduct by our members, that we can win over the confidence and trust of the communities we serve,” he said.
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