Cop busted for planned robbery

2008-02-13 17:01

Bloemfontein - A Free State policeman and seven other men were arrested after a Senekal pub patron overheard them planning to rob a petrol filling station in the town.

Sergeant Mmako Mophiring on Wednesday said Senekal police received an anonymous call alerting them of an attempted robbery on Sunday night.

Mophiring said a person sat in a pub near the men, overheard the robbery being planned and immediately alerted the police.

Police spotted two men near the filling station and searched their vehicle.

Officials found that one of the men was a police official from the Namahadi police station and confiscated his white private VW Citi Golf.

Mophiring said the policeman's 9mm service pistol and two other 9mm pistols and ammunition were confiscated.

It was suspected that the two extra pistols were stolen from police storage.

Following up information the same night police arrested six more men waiting in a double cab vehicle at the town entrance early on Monday morning.

It was thought the group were waiting for a sign from the two men in town who had been arrested.

Mophiring said: "Amongst the arrested suspects was an Ethiopian businessperson from Phuthaditjhaba.

"Another suspect from Bethlehem was on bail for alleged possession of explosives believed to be involved in ATM blasting in Phuthaditjhaba and Kestell," .

The eight men, aged between 21 and 44, will appear in the Senekal Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

They face charges of attempted robbery, possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunition and theft.

- SAPA