MPUMALANGA – A 28-year-old foreign national is expected to appear before the Mkhuhlu Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 04 August 2021 after he was arrested during a disruptive operation by members of Mpumalanga based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation together with Germiston CPI private investigators on Monday, 02 August 2021 for tampering with essential infrastructure, theft and fraud.
It is alleged that in June 2018, Vodacom tower batteries were stolen from the Calcutta power station and were later recovered in a vehicle at Marite trust. The vehicle owner could not be located at the time. A case docket for tempering with infrastructure and theft was opened and it was transferred to the Hawks for further probe. During the investigation, the suspect was linked to the incident and the matter was brought before court for decision. A warrant of arrest was issued against him.
The information was received about his whereabouts at his hiding place in Germiston, Gauteng province. The team proceeded to the identified address and the suspect was apprehended.
During the search, a gas bottle, cash, container keys and cutting welding pipes with gauges which is allegedly used to cut the tower containers were confiscated. The investigation is continuing.
