Cargo theft at Joburg airport
2005-01-09 17:09
Johannesburg - Three men are expected to appear in the Kempton Park magistrate's court on Monday after travellers' cheques worth about R1 million were stolen during a cargo load at Johannesburg International Airport.
Dennis Adriao, spokesperson for the national police commissioner Jackie Selebi, said on Sunday the theft occurred sometime during the past week.
Two security officials from a private security company working at the airport, and an official from a private company contracted to load cargo onto planes were arrested a few days after the incident.
"The cargo bag was stolen while being loaded onto an aircraft. One security guard is from Katlehong and the other is from Dobsonville."
Adriao said the theft did not appear to be linked to previous cargo robberies at the airport.
He said the arrests follows shortly after an official from the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) and a police inspector based at the airport were arrested for allegedly kidnapping and a robbing a Nigerian man in December.
Security supervisor Kowie Jacobs and police inspector Levy Madisha allegedly dumped the man in Hillbrow and stole his briefcase which the man claims contained a large sum of US$.
Adriao said the recent arrests had proven that security at the airport had been beefed up considerably, and was attributed to the hi-tech equipment installed there.
- SAPA