Parts of High Street were cordoned off on Tuesday by more than 40 police officers during the court appearance of five “extremely dangerous” men accused of robbery.
The accused appeared at the High Court in shackles and were escorted by a dozen officers all armed with automatic weapons.
Parts of High Street were cordoned off on Tuesday by more than 40 police officers during the court appearance of five “extremely dangerous” men accused of robbery.
The accused appeared at the High Court in shackles and were escorted by a dozen officers all armed with automatic weapons.
During the brief court appearance, police officers and vehicles formed a barricade around the building fearing that an attempt at breaking the accused out of custody might be attempted.
Explaining the strong police presence, police spokesperson Colonel Syed Cassim said: “We consider the accused to be extremely dangerous.
There was an external threat that an attempt could be made to free them.” According to Cassim, the men are alleged to have links to a cash-in-transit gang responsible for “several cases all over the province” and that all such cases were characterised by a strong police presence.
According to the indictment, the gang are facing charges of armed robbery, robbery with aggravating circumstances,theft, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
The accused are alleged to have stolen more than R230 000 in cash and airtime vouchers during an armed robbery in a shop in Queenstown in 2008.
All of the accused, save one, are also facing a charge of attempted murder after allegedly opening fire on the police when they tried to flee the scene.
Judge Phakamisa Tshiki postponed the hearing to 27 July because the counsel for one of the accused was not able to attend.
After their appearance the accused were led to a police van and escorted by a convoy of police vehicles to the Grahamstown Correcional Centre at Waainek.
