Police have rearrested a suspect in Mpumalanga, Acronhoek, who escaped from the holding cells at the Emakhazeni Magistrate’s Court onThursday morning.
According to the police 29-year-old Karabo Chiloane was hiding at Boelang Trust in the RDP houses near Acronhoek and made an escape just before his court appearance.
“Information from crime intelligence assisted police members from Acronhoek to rearrest Chiloane today. Chiloane is said to have been hiding at Boelang Trust in the RDP houses near Acronhoek,” said Brigadier Selvy Mohala, the police spokesperson.
Chiloane was expected to attend court on Thursday after being initially arrested on a charge of murder, which occurred at Machadodorp in November 2020, he was also facing charges of attempted murder, hijacking and business robbery, which happened in Machadodorp.
Members of the police who were on duty indicated that inmates were reportedly being transported from Middleburg Prison to attend court at Emakhazeni Magistrate’s Court earlier around 09:30 in the morning.
“When other inmates were being accompanied to the holding cell by the court orderlies, it is alleged that Chiloane somehow got inside a consultation room next to the holding cell without being noticed. Later around 10:15 when the court orderlies went to fetch him so that he could appear in court, it was then realised that he had gone missing.”
“A case of escape from lawful custody was immediately opened with an additional charge of aiding an inmate to escape. A padlock from one of the burglar gates was also missing subsequent to the realisation of his escape.”
“Police immediately assembled their resources in pursuit of Chiloane and the information gathered by the intelligence structure came in handy hence he was cornered around 10am where he thought no one would find him,” said SAPS.
The suspect will appear in the same court soon and will additionally answer to charges of escaping from lawful custody.
Source: The Citizen, Times Live, image from IOL: SAPS