Five remanded in custody over possession of stolen copper
The stolen copper recovered by police was said to be valued at an estimated R1,9-million.
Five people, facing charges of possession of stolen property worth millions of rands and tampering or damaging essential infrastructure, were remanded in police custody after they appeared in the Pretoria magistrate’s court last week.
Police spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mulamu said the men appeared in court on Tuesday and Thursday following their respective arrests for the possession of stolen copper which was valued at an estimated R1,9-million.
“This after authorities received intelligence about suspects delivering suspected stolen copper wire at a scrapyard in Hercules.
“Police intercepted a truck fitting the description at the identified scrapyard in Hercules loaded with suspected stolen copper weighing about 3 840kg,” Mulamu said.
Another investigation reportedly led the investigating team to a plot in Heatherdale, north of Pretoria.
The copper wires (1 830m long) which were also suspected to have been stolen, were said to have been recovered at the plot.
“Three suspects – Andries Harmse (47), Oupa Maluleke (49) and Martins Fredericks Geyser (60) – were brought in for questioning during a multi-disciplinary approach driven operation conducted in Pretoria where police seized copper wires and an M2000 Evolution Man truck for investigation,” Mulamu said.
The three were subsequently arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen copper wires, he added.
Following an appearance in the Pretoria magistrate’s court, Geyser was said to have been released on R 3000 bail and his next appearance is set for 19 March.
Harmse and Maluleke were remanded in custody with their next court appearance set for this Wednesday, 24 February when they are expected to make a formal bail application.
Mulamu said two additional suspects – Frans Albert (59) and Andries Lombard (51), meanwhile, handed themselves over to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, office with their legal representative.
“The duo was charged for contravention of the infrastructure act and possession of the suspected stolen property.”
The duo also appeared in the Pretoria magistrate’s court on Thursday and were remanded in police custody. They are expected to return to court on Wednesday alongside Harmse and Maluleke.
Hawks provincial head Major General Ebrahim Kadwa commended the operational teams for their significant breakthrough while also appealing to members of the public to report suspicious activity related to essential infrastructure and non-ferrous metals to authorities.
“Over the years, state-owned enterprises, municipalities, telecommunications and the mining sector have been suffering huge losses and disruptions of essential services due to an attack on essential infrastructure and theft of non-ferrous metals.
“In response to this widespread scourge of attacks on essential infrastructure by highly organised criminal networks, the government, especially the law-enforcement sector has prioritised the prevention and investigation thereof,” Kadwa said.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
