| 2024/11/17 |
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Media Statement POTCHEFSTROOM – Loyd Ngobeni (31), Mark Ratau (40) and Alex Tivan (22) who is a Mozambican citizen, appeared before the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 11 November 2024, for house robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The trio was remanded in custody until their next court appearance on Wednesday, 20 November 2024. The accused’s court appearance stems from an incident reported in the early hours of Thursday morning, 07 November 2024, 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 farm house and overpowered her. The victim was assaulted with a firearm over her head and tied up with shoe laces and masking tape. The suspects ransacked the house and left with items that included clothing, jewellery, tools, cellular phones, a laptop and camera, among others. 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 borrowed to Loyd Ngobeni who was traced to Extension 18, in Mamelodi East, where he was found and arrested on Monday, 11 November 2024. Police seized the stolen laptop, jewellery and the Volkwagen Polo. The second suspect, Alex Tivan, was traced to Group 10 at Sanddrift in Assen and arrested and the police seized cellphones found in his possession. The third suspect, Mark Ratau, was traced and arrested next to the R511 road at Assen. Upon searching him, police found a 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number and a magazine with 36 rounds of ammunition. The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the police officers for their cooperation and dedication that led to the arrests. Ends
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