SA: Policeman sells weapons to criminals

  1. Posted on Thursday 20 August 2009 - 08:41
    Mernat
    Image of Mernat
    Mernat Mafirakurewa, AfricaNews reporter in Johannesburg, South Africa
    One of South Africa's police stations has been turned into a gun shop where weapons are being sold to criminals. The administrative clerk from Alexandra police station, Aubrey Tshamana, is before court for allegedly selling six R-5 rifles and 16 handguns for officers and the Sandton police station.
    South africa police
    Detectives from the Johannesburg Organised Crime Unit are investigating whether the weapons could have been part of those used in the recent spate of violent robberies at some shopping malls. Tshamana, 26, appeared at the Alexandra Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. His case has been postponed to next week and he will be kept at high-risk holding cells.

    The guns have not been recovered and it is believed they could have been sold for as little as R3 500 ($440.817) for a rifle and R1 000 ($125.716) for a handgun.

    AfricaNews reporter said Tshamana could be charged with more serious crimes if any of the guns he allegedly stole are linked to armed robberies at malls.

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