A 21-year-old man appeared at the Tonga Magistrate’s Court today, for laying false charges of carjacking at SAPS KaMhlushwa and was remanded in custody.
The suspect, Malvin Sanderson, is reported to have gone to the police station yesterday, 20 January 2019, claiming that he had been hijacked on Saturday night at Schoemansdal, Nkomazi area.
Police then launched an investigation and found that the suspect was lying to them. Information at police disposal suggest that, Sanderson who is from Pienaar near Nelspruit, allegedly planned a robbery that was to take place at Schoemansdal on Saturday. He and his accomplices are alleged to have gone to a farm in the same area with the purpose of stealing some items. Unfortunately for them, the security personnel at the farm was on patrol and spotted them. They (security) gave chase and the suspects fled the scene, leaving their vehicle behind.
Sanderson then went to the police station on Sunday afternoon and reported that he had been hijacked, but the SAPS skilled Detectives managed to get a hint that the narrative was false. It also transpired that a case against five men was opened by the security personnel from the farm and that the car had already been handed over to the police at Komatipoort.
The suspect was then arrested, hence his appearance today and was remanded in custody next week Monday, 28 January 2019, pending a formal bail application.
The Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma commended the investigating team for responding swiftly and doing a thorough investigation, leading to the arrest of the suspect. He further encouraged the police to work tirelessly in locating the remaining four suspects and making sure that they answer for their actions.