The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lt Gen Godfrey Lebeya, has welcomed the arrest of suspects in connection with the armed robbery committed at the Badplaas Police Station in September.

It is alleged that on 12 September, in the early hours of the morning, one suspect approached the gate of the police station screaming in the guise that he was under attack and needed assistance from the officers on duty.

When the unarmed police attended to the ‘help seeker’, another suspect appeared from within the premises and they both pointed firearms at the officers and ordered them to move inside the client service centre.

The suspects demanded the safe’s keys and took three firearms and ammunition before fleeing the scene.

The stolen firearms were a R5-rifle and two pistols.

The Mpumalanga Hawks’ Serious Organised Investigation Unit in conjunction with the Flying Squad and Elukwatini detectives, followed up on information which resulted in the arrest of three suspects aged 36, 37 and 44.

They were arrested around Nelspruit yesterday, 22 October.

All the firearms were recovered and they are to be subjected to forensic analysis to establish whether they were used in a commission of other crimes.

The two suspects arrested in possession of the firearms have been positively linked to the robbery scene whilst the third is still only being questioned at this stage to establish his role.

They are scheduled to appear in the Calcutta Magistrate’s Court today, 23 October, to face charges of armed robbery and possession of state firearms.