THE three Mpumalanga cops and four civilians linked to a failed Cash-In-Transit heist were granted R5000 bail each.
The individuals include three Sergeants, Collen Nonyane (44), Sunday Mashego (39), Bhekinkosi Godi (39) as well as civilians, Bhekifa Ngwenyama (30), Ali Obi Ebrahim (24), Lawrence Lubisi (44) and Moosa Vilakazi (38).
They appeared in the Tonga magistrate court on Tuesday, 03 October, facing charges of attempted murder, armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of stolen property, conspiracy to commit a crime, malicious damage to property, defeating the ends of justice as well as contravention of the explosive act.
These charges are in connection with a failed Cash-In-Transit heist that occurred on the R570 road towards Schoemansdal, outside Malelane on 11 August.
It is alleged that a group of people rammed a Fidelity cash van, which overturned and was then bombed.
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The suspects allegedly opened fire using high-caliber rifles. They further disarmed a security guard before fleeing the scene.
The Mercedes Benz which was used to ram the cash van was then set alight.
On 17 August, police had to use force to stop the three sergeants attached to the White River flying squad after receiving information that they were in possession of illegal firearms.
Delivering his bail judgement, Magistrate Mduduzi Nkosi said there is no evidence linking all the accused to the scene of crime.
He said it was unclear whether the high-caliber rifles associated with the police officers could be connected to the Cash-In-Transit heist at this stage.
"The principal suspects which are actually said to be the suspects who have committed the Cash-In-Transit are unclear or unknown at the stage. There is no direct evidence linking one or any of the suspects before court which are linked to the said commission of the offence however, they are linked through circumstantial evidence, "he said.
Nkosi said he had considered all the evidence brought forward to the court and there is nothing prohibiting the court from admitting the accused on bail.
"There is no evidence that suggests that the accused are a flight risk or are likely to evade trial. The granting of bail simply means that the accused will stand its trial," he said.
The matter was postponed to 6 December for further investigations.
