A SENIOR crime intelligence officer was hijacked, robbed and assaulted by three men in East London on Sunday night.
Colonel Bongani Maqashalala, one of the most senior policeman in the Eastern Cape Crime Intelligence Division, was driving in the Amagali Abomvu informal settlement near the East London Airport when the thugs struck. The incident occurred after 7pm.
A police officer who was at the scene of the crime and spoke to the Daily Dispatch on condition of anonymity said the colonel had gone to the informal settlement to fetch his gardener when he got lost and started asking for directions.
“As he was busy talking to locals there, three men appeared from the dark carrying guns.
They started pointing their firearms at the colonel and started bashing him with the weapons,” said the officer.
He said the robbers took the officer’s state firearm and demanded his wallet.
“They then took him to the bushes where they tied him up. One of the suspects asked for the card pin and went to the Greenfields shopping centre where he withdrew a maximum amount of R3000 from officer’s account.
“The suspect later returned and handed over the card and the vehicle to the officer.
The officer said the colonel went to Fleet Street police station to report the matter.
“All big guns from Organised Crimes Unit in East London rushed to Fleet Street upon hearing the news to console the officer.
“They then summoned members of the East London Flying Squad and Tactical Response Team to go hunt the suspects,” said the officer. He said when the units arrived at the informal settlement they quickly went to a local tavern and shut it down.
“The tavern was filled to capacity and everyone was made to lie down as the members continued searching for the colonel’s firearm and money.
“He arrived and we conducted an identity parade which came out negative, the suspects were not there,” he said.
The officer said Maqashalala was then escorted to an unidentified East London hospital where he was treated and discharged.
His phone was off yesterday when contacted for comment.
Provincial police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills confirmed the hijacking and said a case of armed robbery was registered at the Fleet Street police station. There had been no arrests. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Police colonel hijacked among shacks
Colonel Bongani Maqashalala, one of the most senior policeman in the Eastern Cape Crime Intelligence Division, was driving in the Amagali Abomvu informal settlement near the East London Airport when the thugs struck. The incident occurred after 7pm.
A police officer who was at the scene of the crime and spoke to the Daily Dispatch on condition of anonymity said the colonel had gone to the informal settlement to fetch his gardener when he got lost and started asking for directions.
“As he was busy talking to locals there, three men appeared from the dark carrying guns.
They started pointing their firearms at the colonel and started bashing him with the weapons,” said the officer.
He said the robbers took the officer’s state firearm and demanded his wallet.
“They then took him to the bushes where they tied him up. One of the suspects asked for the card pin and went to the Greenfields shopping centre where he withdrew a maximum amount of R3000 from officer’s account.
“The suspect later returned and handed over the card and the vehicle to the officer.
The officer said the colonel went to Fleet Street police station to report the matter.
“All big guns from Organised Crimes Unit in East London rushed to Fleet Street upon hearing the news to console the officer.
“They then summoned members of the East London Flying Squad and Tactical Response Team to go hunt the suspects,” said the officer. He said when the units arrived at the informal settlement they quickly went to a local tavern and shut it down.
“The tavern was filled to capacity and everyone was made to lie down as the members continued searching for the colonel’s firearm and money.
“He arrived and we conducted an identity parade which came out negative, the suspects were not there,” he said.
The officer said Maqashalala was then escorted to an unidentified East London hospital where he was treated and discharged.
His phone was off yesterday when contacted for comment.
Provincial police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills confirmed the hijacking and said a case of armed robbery was registered at the Fleet Street police station. There had been no arrests. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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