Africa-Press – South-Africa. A police constable stationed at Cala Police Station has been arrested with his alleged accomplice for breaking into a cash loan lender’s house to steal 98 bank cards, R22 000 in cash and kidnapping her two brothers.
The incident reportedly took place at about 19:00 on Tuesday, when Constable Mfundo Ntshiba was meant to start night shift.
Ntshiba was expected at work by 18:45 but called his shift commander at 18.30 to report he was running late.
The incident is detailed in an internal police incident report sent to Eastern Cape police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene, seen by News24.
It describes how three armed men dressed in police uniform used force to get inside the house of the loan shark before robbing her of the cards, cash and her silver Suzuki Ertiga vehicle.
The suspects allegedly rounded up her two brothers during the dramatic incident, while she managed to escape.
After fleeing her home at Ndondo Square location in Cala, the businesswoman went to Ntshiba’s workplace, where she reported him and his accomplices.
Police investigators interviewed Ntshiba and he allegedly confirmed his involvement in the crime.
He was placed under arrest.
The report stated that Ntshiba had also named his accomplices, including Xolile Makhosini.
The police later spotted Makhosini in Cala city centre driving a white Toyota Fortuner and immediately arrested him.
According to the report, the loan shark said a VW Polo TSI, which she believed was the suspects’ getaway vehicle, was parked near her home with someone behind the wheel.
Police later found her own vehicle abandoned near Mcewula forest.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana said Ntshiba and Makhosini appeared in Cala Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on charges of house robbery, kidnapping and hijacking.
Kinana said the matter was postponed until 14 July for the pair to apply for bail. Kinana said Ntshiba was the only police member involved in the crime.
He said the two other suspects remained at large.
“As the police we urge the public who might know the whereabout of the suspects to help us trace them,” said Kinana.
The police have seized the Toyota Fortuner from Makhosini and have since discovered it was reported stolen in eMahlaleni.
They also seized Ntshiba’s state-issued Z88 firearm and a Toyota Corolla.
It’s not clear who that vehicle belonged to. The police also did not reveal the fate of the two kidnapped brothers.
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