The SBV Polokwane three-year trial, pertaining to an attempted armed cash-in-transit robbery that occurred on 29 September 2006, received judgment on 20 January 2012. The armed robbers could not succeed in opening the vehicle and as a result, four SBV Services guards lost their lives when the robbers dowsed the cash van with petrol and set it alight.
Following the tragic incident, the police arrested 13 suspects in 2006 however, the state had to withdraw charges against four of the accused due to lack of evidence. Passing of judgement occurred on 28 and 29 September 2011. The final verdict was given on 20 January 2012 with the nine accused all charged with the following counts:
* Two counts of theft of a motor vehicle.
* Attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances.
* Four counts of murder.
* Unlawful possession of an automatic rifle.
* Unlawful possession of ammunition.
* Robbery with aggravating circumstances.
* Attempted murder.
Grant Dunnington, SBV Group CEO commented, ‘We are very pleased with how the SAPS as well as the state prosecutor Adv. JP Marais ensured that justice prevailed at the end of the trial. It has been a long five years for the families who lost loved ones in the heist, the month of September being a sad reminder of what is probably one of South Africa’s most gruesome cash-in-transit heists.
The consistent co-operation between the cash security industry and the police has had a significant impact on a reduction in the number of heists. We will continue to work hard and look into more ways of stemming the tide of cash-in-transit heists. While this will not bring back the staff members we lost, we hope that this judgment will be a deterrent and bring an end to the senseless killings in the cash-in-transit industry,” concludes Dunnington.
The case has been remanded to April 2 and 3, 2012 when sentencing will be passed.
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