Burglar escapes from court

THE Scottburgh Magistrates’ Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Mduduzi Blessing Zama (27) following his alleged escape from the court premises on Tuesday, August 11.

Zama is on the run from police and the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Yugen Moodley of the Scottburgh Cluster Detective Task Team appeals to anyone who knows of his whereabouts to contact him at 039 9789917, the Scottburgh police at 039-9781900 or Crime Stop on 08600-10111.

The public is advised not to approach or attempt to arrest the suspect but to call the police instead.

A number of business premises in central Scottburgh had been burgled in recent months and all efforts by the Scottburgh SAPS to identify and arrest the perpetrators had been futile until a local businessman informed police of two suspicious characters lurking around his premises.

They were arrested on Sunday, August 9, and charged with trespassing.

While they were in police custody. Warrant Officer Moodley interviewed them and his investigations led him to Zama’s residence in Amandawe where a number of items of allegedly stolen property were recovered.

Some of the property was identified as having been taken during the business burglaries in central Scottburgh.

Zama was subsequently linked to a number of burglaries and appeared in the Scottburgh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, August 11.

At 12.50pm on Tuesday, Zama allegedly falsely misrepresented himself as another accused who had been convicted on a drug related charge and released upon payment of a fine.

As soon as the court-orderlies discovered that Zama had pretended to be the other accused and should not have been released from custody, police launched a manhunt for him.

A case of escaping from lawful custody has been registered for investigation.
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