|
Rich 'robber' ready with bail
13/02/2006 23:07 - (SA)
Pretoria - One of the alleged Menlyn jewel thieves has told the Pretoria magistrate's court that if he were granted bail of R10 000, he wouldn't have a problem paying it.
Andrew Pilusa, 27, was arrested on December 23 last year
in connection with a hit on Arthur Kaplan Jewellers, in which jewellery to the tune of R800 000 was stolen.
He said in a statement submitted as part of his bail application that he was not married, but had been in a long-term relationship from which two children were born.
He stayed in Johannesburg with his sister and was a taxi owner.
According to the statement, he earned R40 000 a month, and if he was not granted bail, he would lose income and his employees would lose their work.
Although his personal assets were worth R8 000, his vehicles were valued at R800 000.
R10 000 'ready'
Pilusa admitted there were pending cases against him, but claimed he was innocent in all of them.
"I do not know the witnesses and don't have a passport. I have R10 000 available for bail.
"I intend to plead not guilty to these charges," he said.
Pilusa said he did not believe the State had a strong case against him and said he was shot during his arrest by a person who did not identify himself as a police officer.
"My right shoulder blade was shattered and up to now the only treatment I have received in jail was the cleaning of the wound and antibiotics.
"I fear that if I don't have an operation soon, I might lose the use of my right arm," said Pilusa.
Investigating officer inspector Engaka Julius Rachekhu said Pilusa was first arrested in 2002 for a bank robbery.
He escaped from the police holding cells that same night.
He also allegedly was linked to a robbery at Checkers in Lyttelton in June 2004.
Fingerprints on the stolen vehicle used during the robbery linked him to the crime.
Referring to the present case, Rachekhu said three men, of whom one was armed with a rifle suspected to be an AK-47, shot out the display windows at Arthur Kaplan and made off with jewellery worth R800 000.
Get-away car
He said the robbers ran to Entrance 2 where a green Opel Astra was awaiting them.
Instead of using the exit, they drove down the entrance lanes and crashed through a boom gate.
Some of the men inside the car shot at security guards.
"On December 23, the accused was found in this same vehicle.
"It had the same registration plates on as the one used in the robbery. These plates were false.
"According to the arresting officer, they blocked the Opel.
"The accused jumped out and into his own Audi TT. He then reversed into the police's unmarked vehicle and he was shot," the inspector testified.
An entrance ticket to Menlyn Park shopping centre was allegedly found in this vehicle.
The date of the robbery was printed on it, and a time about 20 minutes before the robbery.
Rachekhu said this was "strange" as one had to use that ticket to open the boom at the exit of the centre.
He said the owner of the Opel also found a price tag of one of the alleged stolen watches in the car.
Suspect freedOne of Pilusa's co-accused, Peter Mabaso, 29, walked free after charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and theft of a motor vehicle were withdrawn against him.
The magistrate explained to him, however, that the withdrawal did not mean he was acquitted of these charges and that he could be re-arrested if further evidence came to light.
Another of the accused, Joseph Soana, earlier escaped from police custody at the Moot police station.
- SAPA
|
News
