Acting magistrates held for armed robbery

2012-04-05 13:01

Johannesburg - Two acting magistrates have been arrested for their alleged involvement in an armed robbery, police said on Thursday.

The two allegedly robbed a scrap metal company in Krugersdorp of more than R100 000 on March 24, Lieutenant Colonel Katlego Mogale said.

Three men posing as police officers apparently pretended to be investigating a case at a second-hand scrap dealer in Luipaardsvlei.

"They were driving a Honda Civic motor, dressed in private clothes wearing police reflective jackets and police caps," Mogale said.

One of the men produced a police identity card.

"They initially pretended to be investigating a case, but then robbed the manager and staff members of approximately R110 000 cash, cellphones and a private firearm."

On Wednesday, an off-duty police officer spotted the vehicle used in the robbery. The vehicle was stopped, and its two occupants, who were found to be acting magistrates from Brits and Ga-Rankuwa, were arrested. The vehicle was stolen in Linden last year.

Beeld reported that the arrested men were also partners at a Roodepoort law firm.

One of the men arrested was taken to a local hospital for medical tests, after he claimed that police had hit him on the head during his arrest, the newspaper reported.

Mogale said the men would appear in the Krugersdorp Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on charges of armed robbery, possession of a hijacked vehicle and possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

- SAPA