Cops aid Midrand robbers - victim
2012-10-24 10:58
An SA police officer (File, Sapa)
Johannesburg - A legal adviser was robbed at gunpoint at his home in Blue Hills, Midrand, apparently with the help of police, The Star reported on Wednesday.
Raymondt Dicks was at his home with his son and friend on Saturday when six men stormed into the house and tied them up.
Dicks is a legal adviser to the group NewERA (New Economic Rights Alliance), which has launched a court case against four major banks in the country including SA Reserve Bank. He is also representing author Michael Tellinger, who is suing Standard Bank for civil fraud.
The newspaper reported that the video footage caught on hidden cameras showed what appeared to be three police cars, two vans and one Ford Escort, driving backwards and forwards on the 600m-long street while the robbery took place.
"They walked in with no shame. It was extremely well orchestrated. What I went through during the robbery was bad enough, but when I watched the footage afterward I was really shocked," said Dicks.
He said the footage showed police vans blocking the road while the robbers entered his property.
The Star reported that Dicks and his son were made to hand over their bank cards and their PINs, and their bank accounts were cleared out. A television set, speakers, amplifier, computer and cell phones were also taken.
The legal adviser believed the police vehicles were loaded with items stolen during the robbery.
Police spokesperson Constable Matome Tlamela said police were investigating a case of armed robbery.
She said the video footage did not show clearly that the vans involved belonged to the police.
- SAPA
