Magistrate Goabaone Rammapedi-Lesedi has accepted all the evidence presented by the Investigating Officer (IO) Joshua Ntau (51) at the on-going Tunrite Mall robbery trial. The IO was the last state witness to take the stand yesterday.
Magistrate Rammapedi-Lesedi the items produced in court by Ntau who is also the Officer Commanding at the Diamond Unit are enough to be exhibited in the trial as part of the evidence. The items include; a multi colored bag, G4S plastic bags, an AK 47 rifle with a green sling, an AK 47 rifle, a white glove, black, a white and grey sweater, a white cap, cash, car keys, a photo album, a Toyota Fortuner car, two vehicle registration numbers and a pistol.
The items were allegedly retrieved at the crime scene on the 13th of October 2021 following the robbery.
Ntau told the court that on October 13, 2021 they received a report from the police radio that there had been a robbery at Turnrite Mall. They rushed to the crime scene and a high speed car chase ensued between the police and the suspects.
Ntau disclosed that the directions they continued to receive over the police radio led them to Moloi ward in Mogoditshane.
“By the time we arrived at Moloi ward a team of police officers had already surrounded the place and members of the public were there too,” Ntau said.
Ntau added that as he alighted from the vehicle, one female civilian pointed him in the direction of where the culprits went using non-verbal communication. He said they followed the directions and found a one-room house inside a certain yard. “I then entered the yard with my team and upon entering I saw a multi colored bag normally called ‘mozimbabwe’ outside the house. I immediately checked what was inside and I saw G4S plastic bags normally used to keep money,” he said.
Ntau further stated that he then secured the bag and called for reinforcements because the house was locked and they suspected that the culprits might still be inside the room. He said they forced the door open and didn't find anyone inside. “We then extended the search to the whole yard where I found an AK 47 rifle hidden under a cupboard outside the house. The rifle had a green sling on it,” he said.
Within the same vicinity in the yard, Ntau stated that they retrieved other items. “In the same area one of the detectives recovered another AK 47 rifle and next to that rifle there was also a white glove with blue spots, a sweater which has grey, black and white color and a white cap. These items were also secured,” Ntau stated.
After securing the items, Ntau told the court that he went outside the yard and discovered that his colleagues had already apprehended the four accused persons; Mothusi Matomela, Thapelo Lekobe, Mzwandile Mazibuko, and Elliot Ntshalintshali.
Ntau said they continued to physically search the accused persons, and they retrieved car keys, a black Nokia cellular phone and some bank cards from Matomela. “When we searched accused no.3 we found hand gloves that were about 4 or 5 and they were similar to the one retrieved earlier,” Ntau said.
After further investigations, Ntau disclosed that they discovered that the car keys that were retrieved from Matomela were of the Toyota Fortuner car, which was used as a the gateway car. “We then found a Toyota Fortuner car bearing vehicle registration number plates B 384 BFR abandoned at some house. The keys were able to open the car and start the engine,” he explained. Ntau added that a pistol gun was also retrieved from the same vicinity.
Ntau further said that their investigations revealed that the registration number belonged to a blue Pajero in Botswana, while the car had been hijacked in South Africa. “The car has since been taken back to its owner in South Africa, but we have a photo album which we can use,” he said.
Ntau disclosed that cash retrieved amounted to P2 110 000 and the cash has since been taken back to the bank.
The trial is set to continue on November 16 and 17 for the cross examination of the Investigating Officer.
