Update

ALBERTINIA NEWS - In a press release, police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie noted yesterday that a 53-year-old suspect, the person of interest referred to in the initial media release from police about the double murder of nine- and 10-year-old girls, was arrested within 12 hours after he escaped from community members who formed part of a search party.

This followed the start of the police’s 72-Hour Activation Plan.

This plan entails the activation of all available and specialised resources to assist in the investigation and finalisation of such cases.

One of these specialised units was the Langeberg K-9 (Mossel Bay Dog Unit.  Dog handlers were on patrol in the rural area of Albertinia on the old Vloerplaas Road at about 17:00 yesterday when they spotted a suspicious man exiting the bushes adjacent to the road. 

They approached him as he fitted the description of the wanted man shared with those activated to assist with the search.

Police chased him down and arrested him. The 53-year-old suspect faces two counts of murder and is scheduled to appear in the Riversdale Magistrate's Court on Monday, 26 September.

The police provincial commissioner of the Western Cape, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile had nothing but praise for the members commitment and rapid response to bring the suspect to book, Pojie noted.

Pojie said Patekile encouraged the investigation team to go the extra mile in ensuring that the alleged perpetrator is brought before court if guilty and kept in custody until and beyond successful prosecution. Therefore bail will be opposed by all means possible, he noted.

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