Jeremy Sias, the main suspect in the murder of show jumper Meghan Cremer, had recently apparently became a member of the Six Bob gang and her hijacking and killing was possibly a gang initiation.
Police sources also reveal his two co-accused, Charles Daniels, 34, and Shiraaz Jaftha, 35, who are behind bars for being in possession of Meghan’s stolen Toyota Auris, are no strangers to breaking the law.
The duo are allegedly dik dinge in the Six Bob gang.
“They are linked to hijackings and theft of cars, while Jeremy is not known to us,” a cop tells the Daily Voice.
SUSPECT: Farm labourer Jeremy "Bompies" Sias, 27
Sias, 27, who was known to Meghan and worked as a labourer on her friends’ farm, recently joined the Six Bobs and his nickname was “Bompies”, according to people who knew him but asked not to be named.
“He joined the gang not too long ago and is normally a quiet person who speaks to few people,” says the Philippi resident.
“The talk in Egoli (informal settlement) and surroundings is that Meghan’s murder was a gang initiation.”
Meanwhile by Monday, more than 35 000 women had signed a petition to prevent the accused from being granted bail in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The 30-year-old Meghan’s body was found at a sand mine in Philippi at 1am last Thursday after she had gone missing early the previous Saturday evening.
Sias had allegedly confessed to cops where they could find Meghan’s body.
She was found fully-dressed with a rope around her neck, a cop source says.
Shiraaz Japhta is a member of the Six Bob gang. Picture supplied
The suspects face charges of murder, theft of a vehicle and the possession of stolen property. They are due to appear in court this week for bail information.
The Facebook group SA Women Fight Back, which started the petition, stated: “Please sign this No Bail Application if you agree that the men being accused of Meghan Cremer’s murder should NOT be granted bail.
“Let us ensure these men never walk our streets again. Let us make South Africa a safer place for everyone. Let us be the change.”
Tassi Tyne Carelse, of SA Women Fight Back, said they had received a strong response when she rallied women to start talking and build a “women’s army”, which has led to several WhatsApp groups being launched, reports the Cape Times.
Charles Daniels is known to cops. Picture supplied
Meanwhile Linda Mohr, a close friend of Meghan’s and who also lived at the Vaderlandsche Rietvlei Stables, said the farm workers are “devastated” that someone with ties to the farm has been charged with Meghan’s murder.
“She felt perfectly safe here. We have never had a crime problem here. I and everyone else can ride this 49 hectares alone. We do it all the time. That’s why this is such a shock,” she says.