By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

Four suspects were arrested for stealing five vehicles separately. The suspects were arrested during a disruptive operation conducted between 23 and 24 July 2024, in and around Klerksdorp by different Vehicle Crime Investigation (VCI) units. 

The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the police recovered five vehicles. Mokgwabone further said in one of the cases, Hugo Stevenson (49), briefly appeared in court after being arrested at Colerviller, in Klerksdorp on 23 July 2024, for possession of a suspected stolen Chevrolet Aveo vehicle, which was reported stolen in June 2023. 

He added that the matter was postponed to 29 July 2024, for bail application.

“In Stilfontein, Nadjibo Bugimirabagabo (44) and Elvis Emanuel (age still unknown), were arrested for truck hijacking and kidnapping that was committed on N12 road, near Stilfontein earlier this month. 

“The truck was recovered together with groceries. The accused persons briefly appeared in court on 25 July 2024. They were remanded in custody until 1 August 2024, for bail application,” said Mokgwabone.

 
He said in another separate case in Klerksdorp, Rapuseletso Leepile (45), appeared in court on 25 July 2024, for perjury. Mokgwabone said this comes after Leepile allegedly opened a false case earlier this month that his Ford Fiesta was hijacked. 

“The matter against him was postponed until 6 August 2024, for further investigation. The vehicle is linked to a business robbery allegedly committed in Orkney earlier this month. The operation also resulted in the confiscation of Toyota Etios and Nissan NP 200 vehicles, which were found abandoned near a mall in Jouberton.  

“The preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicles’ engines were tampered with. In addition, the Toyota Etios was linked with the theft of a motor vehicle case reported in February 2023, in Roodepoort, Gauteng Province,” said Mokgwabone.

Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, thanked the police for the successes.

taungdailynews@gmail.com