Cops allegedly helped escapees
June 30 2015 at 05:27pm
By Joe Wagner
By Joe Wagner
Jordaan
Johannesburg - Three police officers from the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court
are currently under investigation following the escape of seven awaiting trial
prisoners earlier this month, Gauteng police said on Tuesday.
“Three police officers are being investigated in relation to the escape
but they haven’t been charged,” spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Dlamini said.
He said that although no charges have been formerly laid against the
officers, an internal investigation was being conducted to establish if they
had aided the prisoners in their escape.
At the time the prisoners were appearing in court to face separate
charges relating to repeated counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances,
housebreaking and theft. The cases were committed in Lenasia, Eldorado Park and
Ennerdale.
The awaiting-trial prisoners escaped from police custody at around 4pm
on June 8 and all have have been recaptured except two who were currently still
at large. Investigations were continuing, Dlamini said.
“Because they were awaiting trial for different cases, we don’t consider
the two prisoners to be together,” said Dlamini.
Three of the suspects, Mpho Ramotsole, Luvesh Veerasamy and Brendon
Paul, were re-arrested on June 9. Ramotsole was found in Ennerdale while
Veerasamy and Paul were found at their respected residences in Lenasia South.
Johnson Leroy was located and rearrested in Eldorado Park on June 17 and Romeo
Beukes was pointed out by members of the Eldorado Park community and
subsequently rearrested on June 22. Dumisani Selepe and Thabiso Sebelwane
remain at large.
Dlamini has warned the public not to confront the two suspects but
rather to contact the police immediately. A team of detectives and crime
intelligence officers have been deployed to recapture the men.
He stated that any officer involved with the escape would face criminal
charges as well as disciplinary actions that may result in being discharged
from the police service.
ANA
