Three in court for possession of JRA paint
Three suspects will appear at the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court after being found in possession of 1400 litres of road marking paint belonging to the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).
The City of Joburg's, Lucky Sindane, says the estimated value of the paint is around R140 000.
A sting operation was led by the City's Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS) Department, the Hawks and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) where various properties in the Johannesburg inner City were searched.
"Three residential properties, a motor dealership in Mayfair West, pawn shops in Brixton and Betrams and two residential properties in Bosmont were targeted", says Sindane.
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An investigation by the City's GFIS Department also revealed that some officials from the JRA have allegedly been stealing the road marking paint and selling it at R300 for 20 litres.
"Officials allegedly use City marked vehicles to deliver the stolen paint of not less than 600 litres per week, according to those arrested."
'Most of the stolen paint is sold to pawn shop owners who in turn resell it," says Sindane.
The City of Joburg believes that more arrests will soon be made.