Mzwandile Choko, 60, Molefe Sidwell Molefe, 61, and Deon de Lange, 48, are expected to apply for bail. Picture: Supplied/Hawks
Inside job, Fidelity guards appear in court for cash-in-transit heist
Three Fidelity guards accused of a cash-in-transit robbery in Bloemfontein briefly appeared at the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court.
Mzwandile Choko, 60, Molefe Sidwell Molefe, 61, and Deon de Lange, 48, are expected to apply for bail. Picture: Supplied/Hawks
Three men employed as Fidelity security officials appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Friday on charges of cash-in-transit robbery.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Brave bystander films a Cash-In-Transit robbery [Video]
Arrested for cash-in-transit robbery
Mzwandile Choko, 60, Molefe Sidwell Molefe, 61, and Deon de Lange, 48, were arrested on Wednesday, 10 May, and made a brief appearance in court.
According to the spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in the Free State, Captain Christopher Singo, the trio were arrested by members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team based in Bloemfontein.
ALSO READ: Cash-in-transit thieves shot DEAD
He said their arrest followed a cash-in-transit heist which took place in Bloemfontein on Tuesday, 9 May.
“The armoured vehicle of Fidelity security company was en route from the company depot to the Bloemfontein central business district (CBD) to deliver cash. It is alleged that before the security officials reached their destination they were accosted by a group of heavily armed suspects at McKenzie Street east end in Bloemfontein,” he said.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Brazen cash-in-transit robbery on the M2 East Freeway
Suspects to apply for bail
The armed robbers then allegedly instructed the security guards to get out of the armoured vehicle during the cash-in-transit robbery.
“They (armed robbers) then used explosives to blow the vault and the drop safe of the armoured vehicle. The suspects then took an undisclosed amount of money and three firearms from the security officials and fled the scene,” said Singo.
ALSO READ: Police arrest 8 suspects for attempted murder and ATM bombing
Further investigation into the cash-in-transit robbery led investigators to the trio. The matter against Choko, Molefe and de Lange was postponed until 19 May for a formal bail application.
