Four to appear for armed robbery

Victor Muyakwabo | Tuesday February 18, 2014 14:33

 

An exchange of fire ensued between the police and the suspects who escaped in the melee.

Botswana Police Service spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Christopher Mbulawa, has confirmed the arrest of the four men.

'Police in Gaborone have arrested four men suspected to have robbed a filling station at Commerce Park on Friday evening,' Mbulawa said.

He added that the suspects were arrested at a house in Mogoditshane. 'One of the suspects was out on bail on two cases of murder and armed robbery while the others were on bail for robbery and unlawful wounding,' Mbulawa said.

According to one of the employees of the filling station who was on duty when the suspects allegedly attacked the convenience shop just before 9pm, a silver Corolla parked in front of the shop before three men armed with knives jumped out and threatened everyone around before entering the shop.

Upon entering the shop, all suspects allegedly covered their faces with some cloths. Two of them proceeded to the tills and ordered everyone to lie down before pulling out cash and airtime coupons from the trays. The other two suspects stood guard at the door.

Sources say one customer attempted to escape from the shop but stopped when one of the suspects at the door threatened to stab him with a knife.

'The alleged robbers had knives, but they kept threatening the employees and customers that they would shoot them,” said one source.

The source added that the four suspects were escorted to the filling station for an identification parade yesterday morning.