R15m precious stone theft: One of two remaining suspects arrested
This brings the total number of people arrested to three after charges were withdrawn against a fourth suspect.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) executed an arrest warrant in Germiston on Friday afternoon.
Media reports have linked the female suspect to a witness at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry known only as ‘Witness K’.
In her testimony, Witness K implicated suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi as the alleged mastermind behind the 2023 raid and seizure of precious stones from a property in Killarney, Johannesburg.
Witness K, an inspector from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department’s VIP protection unit, told the Commission that the stones were later sold for R110,000, despite their estimated value being close to R15 million.
READ: Witness K tells Madlanga of romance with 'Juju' Mkhwanazi, R14.9m gems sold for R110k
The suspect is being held at the Germiston police station.
The IPID attempted to execute the arrest warrant for a second suspect; however, he was not home.
Suping confirmed that, at this stage, they believe that the suspect was not aware of their planned operation.
“We’re going to have to regroup as a team and decide on the way forward… We just found the child inside, and he just said his father was not around.”
TWO SUSPECTS OUT ON BAIL
Three other suspects, EMPD officer Adrian Mackenzie, Kersha-Leigh Stols, and businessman Ettiene van der Walt appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The State withdrew charges against Van der Walt after he made representations to the National Prosecuting Authority, while Stols and Mackenzie were granted R5 000 bail each.
Their matter was postponed to 26 July.
“The suspects were initially six when the investigation began. They were from EMPD, JMPD, Gauteng Traffic Police and a private citizen. One has since died,” said IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping.
Suping said the suspect who was arrested on Friday would appear before the Johannesburg Magistrates' Court on Monday.
