Heist six escape from court

2004-03-15 20:06

Johannesburg - Six men accused of attempting a cash-in-transit heist escaped from the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Monday, said Paula Nothnagel of the police.

Nothnagel said a person in the gallery handed the men two firearms as they were stepping down after the magistrate had postponed the case.

"They immediately turned and ran towards the main entrance," she said.

She said the men sped towards Dobsonville in a silver-grey Audi A4 that had been waiting for them at the main entrance to the court.

Nothnagel warned the public not to approach the men as they were armed and dangerous.

She said police had launched a manhunt and anyone with information that might lead to their arrest should call inspector Richard Ramukosi on 082 778 9328.

The men appeared on cash-in-transit heist charges.

Nothnagel said the men's bid was foiled in Honeydew and ended in a shoot-out near the Nasrec off-ramp on the N1 highway.

The police had chased the suspected robbers and wounded three men in the shoot-out.

- SAPA