By Lwazi Raul
A 28-year-old foreign national is expected to appear before the Mkhuhlu Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 04 August 2021 after he was arrested during a disruptive operation by members of Mpumalanga based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation together with Germiston CPI private investigators on Monday for tampering with essential infrastructure, theft and fraud.
It is alleged that in June 2018, Vodacom tower batteries were stolen from the Calcutta power station and were later recovered in a vehicle at Marite trust.
The vehicle owner could not be located at the time. A case for tempering with infrastructure and theft was opened and transferred to member of the Hawks for further investigation.
During the investigation, the suspect was linked to the incident. A warrant of arrest was issued against him.
Information of the suspects whereabouts and hiding place in Germiston, Gauteng province were received. The team proceeded to the identified address and the suspect was apprehended.
During the search, a gas bottle, cash, container keys and cutting welding pipes with gauges which is allegedly used to cut the tower containers were confiscated. The investigation is continuing.
