NATIONAL NEWS - Loyd Ngobeni (31) and his two accomplices, Mark Ratau (40) and Alex Tivan (22), are due to appear in the Brits Magistrate’s Court today facing charges of house robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
According to SAPS Colonel Adéle Myburgh, the three appeared in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Monday, when they were remanded in custody until today’s court appearance.
She says their court appearance stems from an incident reported in the early hours of 7 November, at a farm in the Kameeldrift area in Assen, close to Brits.
“It is alleged that a 64-year-old woman was sleeping in her house when the trio forced entry into the farmhouse and overpowered her,” says Myburgh.
She says the victim was assaulted with a firearm and tied up with shoelaces and masking tape. The suspects then allegedly ransacked the house and left with items including clothing, jewellery, tools, cellular phones, a laptop and a camera.
“Collaboration between the Brits Trio Task Team and Crime Intelligence led to the identification of the vehicle, a white Volkswagen Polo, used during the commission of the crime.
“The owner was identified and it was established that the vehicle was lent to Ngobeni who was traced to Ext 18 in Mamelodi East, where he was found and arrested on 11 November,” says Myburgh.
Officers seized the stolen laptop, jewellery and the Polo.
Myburgh says Tivan, the second suspect, was traced to Group 10 in Sanddrift in Assen and arrested. The police seized cellphones found in his possession.
“The third suspect, Ratau, was traced and arrested next to the R511 at Assen.”
Myburgh says police found a 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number and a magazine with 36 rounds of ammunition in his possession.
“Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Sello Kwena congratulated the police officers for their co-operation and dedication which led to the arrests.”
A laptop that was seized during the robbery.
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