A 36-year-old decorated army captain has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a cash-in-transit heist at a petrol station in Oudtshoorn.
According to police spokesperson, Zinzi Hani, the robbery took place on July 19.
She says the soldier, who is attached to the Infantry School in Oudtshoorn, was nabbed on 23 July and will be the fourth suspect to be charged in the matter.
Security guards from Fidelity Cash Solutions were robbed while collecting cash from a petrol station.
“One of the security guards was accosted by two armed suspects while on his way back to his armoured vehicle,” says Hani.
“He was disarmed of his service pistol and robbed of a bag containing cash.
“Minutes after the robbery, the Hawks team stopped a Nissan Sentra and arrested three occupants.”
The Hawks found the stolen loot, a gun, and a full SANDF uniform in the Nissan Sentra.
“None of the three occupants were soldiers. A loyal service medal was pinned to the jacket with the name and rank of the SANDF member.”
Hani said it is alleged that the vehicle that was used in the robbery, a white Toyota Tazz, was fitted with false number plates, had been driven by the SANDF member.
“It is further alleged the white Toyota Tazz drove away from the crime scene and stopped next to a silver/blue Nissan Sentra and the stolen goods were transferred from the Toyota Tazz to the Nissan Sentra.”
She says on Wednesday, the Hawks traced the Tazz.
“The Tazz was found parked inside a garage of a residence in Oudtshoorn, not far from the Infantry School. The set of false number plates used in the robbery was found inside the vehicle. Consequently, the SANDF member was arrested.”
The soldier is due to appear in the Oudtshoorn Magistrates’ Court today facing charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances.