Johannesburg, Africa: The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation (SCI) team based in Johannesburg has arrested seven suspects who are aged between 25 and 42 for various charges, including robbery, corruption and kidnapping.
As per the sources, four police officials, a Tshwane Metro police officer, along with two civilians were reportedly indulged in an armed robbery which took place on June 14, 2023.
It is suspected that 10 suspects, of which two were dressed in full police attire, undertook robbery at a residence of a businesswoman in the Malvern area of Johannesburg.
The armed suspects reportedly gained forced entry into the house premises, threatened the individuals inside and asked for money and their cellular phones stated the Hawks spokesperson Colonel Philani Nkwalase.
Nkwalase added that they searched the house and forcefully opened the banking application of the complainant and asked her to quickly transfer money of around R200,000, which they noticed in her business account. Still, somehow the bank refused to release the amount at such short notice.
Col Nkwalase stated that the suspects drove with her to the bank to get some money from her savings account and demanded she asks for more money from her relatives. He said the businesswoman lost around R83,000 during the robbery incident.
The suspects were tracked down by the investigators and they are expected to appear in the Johannesburg magistrate’s court tomorrow. Nkwalase said that the Hawks’ team is hot on the heels of the other suspects.
The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation (SCI) team is working hard to tackle the crime around Johannesburg because the city has witnessed a recent surge in the number of crimes taking place. The team has also increased its presence around the city to limit and curb as much crime and violence as possible and safeguard the residents.